Marcus Rashford graced the revamped Camp Nou for the first time as a Barcelona player - though a prospective switch to Paris Saint-Germain has allegedly fallen through. The 28-year-old entered the fray shortly after half-time, taking the place of midfielder Marc Bernal. Despite the on-loan Manchester United ace failing to find the net, the Catalan giants secured a 3-1 triumph over Alaves – establishing a two-point advantage over bitter rivals Real Madrid at the summit.
It marked his 13th league outing – his fourth coming off the bench. Rashford branded it a 'special night' when posting on Instagram later. Uploading snaps from the encounter, the winger penned: "First time playing at Spotify Camp Nou as a blaugrana. Special night for me."
Rashford has revitalised his career at Barcelona following his exile by United manager Ruben Amorim. The Spanish heavyweights possess the option to secure his services permanently for a modest £26million (€30m). Rashford's displays had supposedly sparked interest from PSG, with journalist Ben Jacobs revealing the French powerhouses are anticipated to target a versatile forward next year.
Nevertheless, Jacobs has subsequently clarified – referencing sources – that a switch for Rashford is 'unlikely at this stage.' The England international is flourishing in Catalonia, boasting six goals and nine assists across 18 appearances – statistics that establish him as the premier creator throughout Europe's elite divisions. Meanwhile, Barca boss Hansi Flick has already shared his thoughts on the England international. He said: "I followed him his whole career, I was impressed with his quality, what he's doing in the box in front of the opponent's goal.
"He has shown it in Barcelona. I'm happy with him; I know he can play at this level and he's shown it. He's an important player.
"He's a player with great talent and an amazing ability to finish attacks, and that's what we see in training. We needed a player with these qualities." Rashford remains a strong candidate to feature in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for next summer's World Cup.