Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford is already thriving at Barcelona, but another who has previously done damage to the Red Devils could star against Newcastle in the Champions League
Raphinha (L) celebrates with Barcelona's English forward #14 Marcus Rashford scoring his team's second goal during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Valencia
Marcus Rashford could be set to thrive alongside one player who once hurt him and Manchester United in the past
(Image: LLUIS GENE, AFP via Getty Images)
Barcelona's Champions League trip to Newcastle could be the perfect opportunity for Marcus Rashford to prove his worth, with Lamine Yamal being rested due to fitness concerns. Thursday's match will mark Rashford's first non-knockout Champions League game since receiving a red card while playing for Manchester United in 2023, and one of his current Barcelona team-mates was the star of that particular show.
Rashford demonstrated last season that he still has much to contribute at the elite level of football when he shone during a loan spell at Aston Villa. He assisted one goal in the last-16 win over Club Brugge, then did the same against PSG as Villa nearly pulled off an unforgettable comeback against the eventual champions.
Rewind to autumn 2023 when Rashford was sent off against FC Copenhagen as what seemed like a straightforward away win turned into a major upset. Man United led 2-0 thanks to a Rasmus Hojlund double when the England international landed on Elias Jelert's ankle, and referee Donatas Rumsas showed him a straight red before Copenhagen came back with a vengeance to equalise.
Man United jostled the lead back and forth but couldn't hold on to it. Lukas Lerager slipped in at the back post to equalise at 3-3, and Roony Bardghji, just a week away from his 18th birthday, scored his first Champions League goal to complete the comeback.
Two years on, Rashford and Bardghji might end up playing alongside each other at St James' park as they aim to kick off their European journey with a win. And fair to say the youngster has taken the challenging route to get there.
Bardghji, who represents Sweden at Under-21 level, was already attracting attention from clubs across Europe before that encounter with Man United. Several Premier League sides, including the English giants, were monitoring his progress, though any potential big-money switch was delayed in May 2024 when he picked up an ACL problem.
Roony Bardghji of FC Barcelona looks on during the Spanish league, La Liga EA Sports, football match played between FC Barcelona and Valencia CF at Johan Cruyff stadium
Roony Bardghji has earned high praise from Barca manager Hansi Flick of late
(Image: Europa Press via Getty Images)
"We all feel for Roony, and everyone in and around the club will do everything we can to help him get back on the pitch again," Copenhagen's sporting director Peter Christiansen said at the time. "Right now he needs to take it easy to process what has happened, but we all know him as a dedicated and deeply serious footballer who we know will come back even stronger."
It took until March of this year before he made his return to action. Having missed the whole regular campaign in Denmark, he entered as a substitute during the Superliga's Championship phase as Copenhagen attempted to hunt down Midtjylland and secure the championship.
They managed exactly that, securing victory by a single point and wrapping up a league and cup double by the end of May. Bardghji featured in the cup semi-final clash with Viborg, though this proved to be his last appearance for the club as injury ruled him out of the final before Barcelona secured a bargain summer move.
Speaking in his maiden interview as a Barcelona player, the winger revealed he had always supported the club and harboured ambitions of representing them: "I feel at home. I've fitted in really well with my teammates and I'm very comfortable."
Roony Bardghji celebrates his winner against Manchester United in 2023
Bardghji haunted Manchester United in the Champions League back in 2023
(Image: Getty Images)
Bardghji made his senior bow for Barcelona at the weekend, dropping Raphinha as Hansi Flick's team demolished Valencia 6-0. The defending champions' financial constraints meant they had to delay his registration, but clearance came through during the international break, and he's now poised to begin his Barcelona journey.
"Roony had a great training session, the mentality, as I said, is perfect," said Flick after the win. "Only eleven players are playing, and everyone wants to play; the attitude is perfect."
With Yamal absent from the travelling party, a maiden European chance could come earlier than expected. He's accompanied Rashford on the journey to Newcastle, though perhaps he's not quite prepared to discuss their previous encounter in the tournament.