Barcelona chiefs are convinced they've bagged a 'bargain' in securing Marcus Rashford from Manchester United, and they anticipate his value will soar once he finds his footing at the Nou Camp. Rashford has been loaned to Barca from United until the season's end in exchange for covering all of the striker's £300,000-a-week wages, with talk United could let Barca make the deal permanent next summer for a mere £26million.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta was reportedly taken aback that his United counterparts agreed to such a modest fee before seeing how the England star would adapt to life in Spain. A source from Barcelona stated: "At the top of his game, Marcus Rashford is one of the best players in Europe. Barca have got themselves a genuine bargain. Marcus should be worth more than £60m in the current market."
Rashford took a little time to settle into his new surroundings at the Catalan club, but he's certainly found his feet in recent weeks. The ex-Red Devils ace impressed when he returned to England with Barcelona last month for the La Liga side's Champions League clash against Newcastle United, with Rashford finding the back of the net twice.
Since then, Rashford has registered an assist in each of his next four outings for Barcelona, including a stylish pass for the opening goal during Wednesday's clash with European champions Paris Saint-Germain. Such has been Rashford's impressive form, he has managed to retain his spot in the England squad for the upcoming international break, with the forward no doubt eyeing up a spot on the plane for next summer's World Cup in North America.
Rashford will have to put on a better show, should he see the pitch against either Wales or Latvia next week, given Thomas Tuchel was unimpressed during his cameos in the previous international break. Speaking in September, Tuchel said: He struggles a bit with numbers and with the ‘wow’ performance in an England shirt, I agree.
"But as long as he trains like he did and behaves and is active and alive in the group, then we will always trust him and push him and support him. I can see that he tries, this is for me the most important that he stays positive and he trains at the moment with the right attitude, with a smile and with a lot of quality."