Manchester United are expected to undergo a squad overhaul this summer, with a number of big-name players expected to be moved on.
One of the names certain to leave is Marcus Rashford, who had a falling out with Ruben Amorim last season.
He was dropped from the squad and eventually loaned out to Aston Villa in January, where he impressed.
Rashford is dreaming of a move to Barcelona, who have shown interest in signing him since the January transfer window. Aston Villa are also keen on signing him on a permanent deal.
The 27-year-old has now given a hint about his future in a recent interview.
Marcus Rashford in action for Aston Villa vs Man City
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Marcus Rashford opens up on links with Barcelona ahead of Man United exit
While the attacker is said to be happy with his situation at Villa and would be open to a move, Rashford is waiting for Barcelona.
Lamine Yamal has previously shown his admiration for Rashford, praising him for his performances for Villa against Club Brugge.
And Rashford, in an interview with xBuyer on YouTube, labelled Yamal as ‘the best’ when asked about the prospect of playing alongside him. He said: “Yeah, sure. Everybody in the world wants to play with the best. So hopefully, we’ll see.
“He’s playing at the highest level, I don’t think we’ve seen it. To have his mentality is a skill. He’s not normal to be doing what he does and will keep improving.”
Rashford further hinted at a potential move to Barcelona by expressing his love for Spain, stating: “Spain is nice, it’s not too far from home.
“If I’m training over a long period, my family can come for a few days, it’s a nice location and good weather.”
Marcus Rashford is open to playing as a number nine
Barcelona agreeing personal terms with Nico Williams would likely reduce their chances of pursuing Marcus Rashford, given that both players primarily operate on the left wing.
However, Rashford’s versatility could still make him a viable option. The Manchester United forward has expressed his growing comfort in playing as a central striker. He said: “For me as I’ve got older, the number nine position is becoming more comfortable, more natural.
“Things like playing with back to goal is becoming easier for me, you’re always in front of the goal and always dangerous.”
Rashford is not a stranger to playing up front, having previously played there at Manchester United as well.
He has featured as a centre-forward in 160 matches, scoring 63 goals and providing 27 assists, a decent return.
Position Games Played Goals Assists Goal Contributions
Left Winger 230 69 51 120
Centre-Forward 160 63 27 90
Right Winger 51 13 7 20
Marcus Rashford stats playing across various positions
Interestingly, despite playing more games on the left, his return remains similar, with 69 goals and 51 assists in 230 appearances.
These stats suggest Rashford could be a strong addition for Barcelona, even if they intend to deploy him centrally rather than out wide.