Barcelona seem unwilling to fork out £26million for on-loan Manchester United man but have just paid £70million for his fellow England squad member
Marcus Rashford in England training in Miami
Marcus Rashford in England training in Miami(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
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Of Marcus Rashford’s 70 appearances for England, 16 have come in tournament football. Gareth Southgate did not take him to Euro 2024 but this upcoming World Cup will still be the fifth time 28-year-old Rashford has gone to the finals of a major international competition.
He played twice at Euro 2016, five times at World Cup 2018, five times at Euro 2020 (in 2021) and four times at World Cup 2022. But 14 of those 16 appearances were as a substitute.
And the two starts - against Belgium in Russia eight years ago and against Wales in Qatar at the last World Cup - came in group games that were, essentially, dead rubbers for England. Their passage to the knockout stages was already secure.
Southgate never trusted Rashford to start really important games and eventually never trusted him to be in the squad. And that is one of several reasons Rashford has a lot to prove at World Cup 2026.
In fact, he has a lot riding on his contribution to England’s challenge. For a start, it is hard to believe Rashford saw Anthony Gordon’s move to Barcelona coming.
The party line from the Rashford camp and from the Nou Camp is that Gordon’s surprise £70million switch to Barcelona does not necessarily influence whether the on-loan Manchester United attacker stays or goes. But that is hard to believe.
Anthony Gordon with a Barcelona shirt
Anthony Gordon's £70million move to Barcelona took a lot of people by surprise (Image: Adria Puig/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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From a personal point of view, it would be understandable if Rashford was a little indignant at Barcelona being unwilling to pay a £26million option-to-buy for him while happily shelling out almost three times as much for Gordon. Ok, Gordon is three and a half years younger than Rashford and likely to have more of a sell-on value
But is he a big upgrade? We will find out Thomas Tuchel’s thoughts on that when he names his team for Engand’s opening game against Croatia on June 17.
Considering the conditions in the States, there is going to be a lot of work for the substitutes to do, but Tuchel’s initial selection will still be telling. Considering he has made 426 appearances for Manchester United and well over 500 appearances for club and country, it sounds odd to say Rashford has plenty to prove.
Can Marcus Rashford be at his best for England in USA?
Can Marcus Rashford be at his best for England in USA?(Image: 2026 The FA)
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But if Barca are balking at paying a relatively small fee for him, it suggests they have some sort of reservation. His time in Spain has generally been seen in a positive light and his numbers - 14 goals and 14 assists - have been very decent.
But even after a decade at the very elite level, there are some out there who still need a reminder that Rashford is a truly world-class talent. And if he gives everyone an emphatic reminder at the World Cup - if he gets himself selected ahead of Gordon, for a start - then his blue-chip options on the club front will suddenly become a lot more plentiful.
For someone who has been to four tournaments and has won 70 caps, Rashford remains one of England's fringe players. All round, it would be a good time for him to take centre stage.
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