Marcus Rashford's importance to Barcelona has been made clear amid speculation over the Manchester United forward's future
Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford has made his feelings clear on his Barcelona future(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
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Marcus Rashford has been given a boost as he looks to make his Barcelona loan a permanent deal.
While not always a guaranteed starter, the Manchester United forward has impressed in Spain with 10 goals and 13 assists this season. Following the removal of Rubem Amorim as head coach, Rashford has been linked with an unlikely return to Old Trafford, although an extended stay in Catalonia still looks more likely. Barcelona have the option to buy him outright for £26million at the end of the season.
The England forward's recent excellent form was checked by a minor knee issue which caused him to miss the 4-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the Copa de Rey semi-final first leg. However, he could return to action against Girona in La Liga on Monday night.
The second leg against Atletico is on March 3, with Barca having a mountain to climb against Diego Simeone's side. However, in a sign of how highly Rashford is valued, the club has pinpointed his likely availability as a reason why Hansi Flick's side can turn the tie around.
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As the club website highlighted reasons for optimism ahead of the second leg at the Nou Camp, it described him as a "key player".
It wrote: "If all goes well, three key players should be available for the second leg on 3 March: Pedri, Raphinha and Rashford. The Englishman looks the most certain, having missed the first leg purely as a precaution."
Marcus Rashford
Rashford has been a hit in Spain(Image: Getty Images)
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The compliment comes amid a fresh update about Rashford's future beyond this season, and it isn't as simple as Barca stumping up the aforementioned £26m.
The La Liga champions have reportedly presented United with two options to secure Rashford: purchasing the winger for less than his buy-out clause or extending his loan for another year with a mandatory purchase obligation in 2027.
According to Spanish outlet SPORT, Barca have opted to buy Rashford permanently and will only change direction should he suffer a serious injury.
While the exit of Amorim, who froze him out and allowed him to join Villa and then Barca on loan, opened the door to a potential United return, Rashford has made it clear he sees his future in Spain.
Marcus Rashford
Rashford is hoping to return to action soon after a knee issue(Image: Josep LAGO/AFP via Getty Images)
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Speaking earlier this season, he said: "Oh yeah, for sure. I'm enjoying this football club and I think for anybody who loves football, Barcelona is one of the key clubs in the history of the game, so to play here is an honour.
"I just believe that things happen when they're supposed to happen. It's not the first time I spoke with Barcelona about potentially coming here, but for whatever reasons it didn't happen in the past, and now is my opportunity to make it happen. I feel like there's no time like the present now."