Marcus Rashford is spending the season on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United and could join the club permanently in the summer
Marcus Rashford at Newcastle vs Barcelona
Marcus Rashford is Barcelona's joint-top scorer in this season's Champions League(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
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When Barcelona take on Newcastle United on Wednesday night, Marcus Rashford will have another opportunity to lock horns with one of his former Manchester United team-mates. On-loan forward Rashford won't play against his parent club this term after they failed to qualify for Europe but his hopes of realising a Champions League dream could be dented by former colleague Anthony Elanga.
Elanga came through United's academy and actually replaced Rashford when he made his senior debut under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He played 55 times for the club before leaving for Nottingham Forest in 2023 and joined Newcastle in a £55million switch last summer.
Both Rashford and Elanga started when Barcelona beat Newcastle in the opening gameweek of this season's Champions League, with the former scoring twice in a 2-1 win. The pair weren't on the pitch at the same time in the first leg of the knockout tie between the sides, though, with Elanga starting for Newcastle but leaving the field before Rashford came on for Barca.
The round of 16 meeting is delicately poised after Lamine Yamal's late equaliser cancelled out a goal from Harvey Barnes. While the Manchester United reunion offers an intriguing sub-plot, the match in Catalunya will also offer Rashford an opportunity to show how he's developed as a player since heading abroad.
"I'm learning a lot, it's a new style of football," the England international told TNT Sports after his brace in September. "But it's making me a better player. Honestly, it's an amazing experience. I've always been a huge admirer of Barcelona, every player my age has watched them play, it's amazing football."
He also praised Barca manager Hansi Flick, saying: He's very important. I feel the confidence he's given me. I knew he was a top manager before I arrived here, but to work with him is a pleasure. I hope the good relationship will continue for the rest of the season.
"For sure, everybody dreams of winning the Champions League. Now I'm at Barcelona, the dream is with Barcelona. I hope we can win the tournament, there's some very good confidence. Hopefully we can go game by game and keep improving as a team."
Marcus Rashford and Anthony Elanga training with Manchester United in 2022
Rashford and Elanga were team-mates at Manchester United(Image: Tom Purslow/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Rashford ended the league phase as Barcelona's joint-top scorer in Europe, matching Fermin Lopez's total of five goals. He has 10 in all competitions, with all indications pointing to a permanent move to Camp Nou at the end of the season.
Flick's team lost two of their eight league phase matches, against Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, only clinching a top-eight finish when they came from behind to beat FC Copenhagen on the final matchday. They scored 22 goals across their eight matches, with only top-of-the-table Arsenal scoring more.
Rashford and Elanga did appear on the same pitch when the two sides clashed in the league phrase(Image: Getty)
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Barcelona won the Champions League four times in a 10-year period between 2005 and 2015 but the following decade was less fruitful. They haven't reached the final in the last 10 years and have only made the semis twice, losing to Liverpool in 2019 and Inter Milan in 2025.
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