Marcus Rashford has reiterated his ambition to stay at Barcelona following his loan period from Manchester United. The forward, who found himself sidelined at Old Trafford under manager Ruben Amorim, secured a move to Spain during the summer after a brief spell with Aston Villa.
Since arriving at the Catalan club, Rashford has been a regular player in the side. Manager Hansi Flick has deployed the 28-year-old on the left flank when Raphinha has been unavailable, whilst also utilising him in a central striking role. The England international has contributed seven goals and 11 assists across all competitions this campaign.
Back in October, prior to his maiden El Clasico encounter with Real Madrid, Rashford made his intentions regarding his future abundantly clear, declaring his wish to continue playing in Spain. In conversation with Sport this week, Rashford emphasised his determination to remain and assist Barca in securing silverware.
"Of course what I want is to stay at Barca," he told the Barcelona-based publication Sport. "It's an end goal, but it's not the reason why I'm training hard and giving it my best. The purpose is to win. Barca is a huge, fantastic club, built to win titles."
Rashford also revealed that his switch to Barcelona has provided him with the pressure he 'wants' as a footballer. "There is pressure here, but it is not a negative pressure, but the one you want as a player, the one I want and have always wanted as a footballer," he added.
"I can't be in a place where important objectives are not demanded of you; For me it is more difficult to be motivated and give my best at a club where the demand is not maximum. I'm in the perfect place and environment to continue my journey as a football player, so I just try to do my best every day and help the team win. We'll see what happens next summer."
In addition, Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo has offered its take on his future, suggesting that the England star is 'closer to staying than leaving'.
Barcelona's manager Flick is known to be a fan of the winger, having previously commended his attitude and mindset. "When I talk to the players, I explain why they didn't play," Flick said.
"When I tried to explain to Rashford why he wasn't a starter, he said: 'You don't need to explain to me. The important thing is that the team wins and we get the three points. Nothing else matters'. This is the right mindset and I'm glad it's with us."
Rashford is currently taking a short break ahead of the festive season, with Barcelona not due to play again until January 3 against Espanyol. On Tuesday, he gave his Instagram followers a sneak peek into his downtime.
Barcelona have the option to make Rashford's move permanent for approximately £26million, and recent Spanish reports indicate that the club are prepared to exercise this option.
However, considering their financial predicament, Barcelona might attempt to negotiate a lower fee with United. There are also suggestions that Rashford may need to agree to a wage reduction if the transfer becomes permanent.