Barcelona have an expensive problem to deal with as they look to sign Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford of Barcelona disappointment during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between FC Barcelona and Olympiacos FC at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on October 21, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.
Marcus Rashford's Barcelona hopes are hanging by a thread(Image: Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
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Marcus Rashford's hopes of signing for Barcelona permanently remain in doubt after the club's financial struggles were exposed. Following a fruitful season-long loan spell, Barca hold the option to purchase the Manchester United forward permanently for £26m this summer.
However, the Catalans are finding it difficult to meet the fee and are hoping to negotiate it down or prolong his loan for a further season. That would go against the wishes of United, who are keen to sever ties with Rashford permanently.
Barca have until June 15 to exercise its option, but the club's ability to raise the funds is questionable amid reports it is 'running out of money' to finish work on the revamped Nou Camp.
Having spent a spell playing at the Olympic Stadium, Barca returned to their iconic home in November, although the renovation work remains incomplete and the capacity has been restricted to just under 63,000.
The overall scheme has overrun and exceeded budget, with a £1.25billion loan from Goldman Sachs proving insufficient to finish the project. Consequently, the club will request to have its credit limit raised at either the forthcoming Extraordinary General Assembly in July or at the next ordinary meeting before the start of next season.
Once additional funding is secured, the club will turn its attention to constructing the two VIP rings and the third tier. That process could stretch until next summer before the final phase - adding a roof - which will require yet another temporary relocation.
That would presumably mean a return to the Olympic Stadium at Montjuic, though an ongoing dispute with Barcelona City Council has cast doubt over that prospect.
The view inside the Nou Camp
Work is ongoing at the Nou Camp(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
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These financial difficulties go some way to explaining why Barca are hesitant to pay the full option fee of £26m for Rashford, whose dream of a permanent move could yet be shattered.
Other suitors are lurking in the background as Barcelona continue to drag their feet. Among them are Bayern Munich, who are willing to meet United's asking price but, according to The Sun, not his current wages.
Marcus Rashford of FC Barcelona looks on during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Oviedo and FC Barcelona at Carlos Tartiere on September 25, 2025 in Oviedo, Spain.
Other clubs are interested in Rashford (Image: Getty Images)
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Marca report that the 28-year-old has no desire to join Vincent Kompany's side and is not entertaining any approaches from rival clubs, Bayern included. Yet unless Barca can reach an agreement with United, he may find himself with little option.
For now, Rashford will have his sights firmly set on the World Cup and England's final pre-tournament friendly against Costa Rica on Wednesday.
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