Marcus Rashford completed his dream move to Barcelona last month, but Rivaldo has warned the England international that he will not take Raphinha's starting spot under Hansi Flick
Marcus Rashford looks on
Rivaldo has issued a word of warning to Marcus Rashford(Image: Koji Watanabe, Getty Images)
Rivaldo has warned Marcus Rashford that he will not displace Raphinha from the Barcelona starting XI.
After months of pursuing a transfer to the Catalan club throughout the summer, Rashford eventually secured his dream move last month, though only on a season-long loan deal which includes a £26million option to buy. While Rashford will be fondly remembered as one of United's finest academy products, his time at Old Trafford appears virtually over under Ruben Amorim's management.
The 27-year-old lost favour with the Portuguese manager during the latter half of last season, resulting in a loan spell at Aston Villa. It became evident that he remained surplus to Amorim's requirements following his summer return, so Rashford actively sought another departure from the club. Barcelona eventually landed his signature after failing to secure Athletic Club's Nico Williams and Liverpool's Luis Diaz, reports the Mirror.
While Rashford will be keen to make an immediate impact in Spain, Rivaldo has cautioned that he will not feature ahead of star performer Raphinha. Speaking to Betfair, the 53-year-old, who represented Barcelona from 1997 to 2002, said: "I think that's highly unlikely that Rashford will take Raphinha's spot, especially after the season Raphinha had last year.
"In my view, Raphinha is currently among the top five players in the world. Right now, he's an undisputed starter at Barca and already a club icon. Everyone, the players, the coaching staff, the whole club rates him very highly.
"What he did last season was outstanding, so without a doubt, that position is his. Of course, it's always good to have top-quality players around you.
"So yes, there will be competition, but I don't think Rashford is going to take Raphinha's place. Other opportunities will arise, and with training, the manager will likely find a way to fit them both into the team. But for me, Raphinha is a nailed-on starter. I don't see any chance of him being dropped from Barca's starting line-up."
Rivaldo poses for a photograph
Rivaldo has spoken about Marcus Rashford(Image: Getty Images)
Rivaldo also suggested Rashford might need to show patience for his chance, potentially beginning matches from the bench as the campaign commences. He added: "When a player leaves a club in a tough situation, like he did, and joins a team like Barcelona, it's only natural that the coach will use training sessions and the first few matches to get a better look at him.
"Barcelona had a great season last year, so it's normal for him to start off on the bench. I believe that little by little, he'll find his rhythm, start to understand how the manager wants the team to play, get used to the training routines, and gradually settle in.
"Over time, he'll earn his spot. He's a hugely talented player – he's already proven that in one of the toughest leagues in the world. He's also an international. So, I fully expect him to earn a place in Barca's starting eleven and re-establish himself as a regular in the England squad too."
Hansi Flick looks on
Hansi Flick may have to tinker with his squad(Image: Getty Images)
With 34 goals and 25 assists to his name across all competitions last season, Raphinha proved crucial to Barcelona securing the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de España. And with his contract running until 2028, it's believed that the 28-year-old Brazilian is undroppable.
There have, however, been suggestions in Spain that boss Hansi Flick might, on occasion, move Raphinha into a central position behind the striker to accommodate Rashford and allow him to come in on the left.
Rashford made his unofficial Barcelona debut in a pre-season clash against Vissel Kobe last month, entering as a substitute for Raphinha at the interval. Nevertheless, he managed only 30 minutes before being withdrawn for Pedro Fernandez Sarmiento.
While the situation appeared rather awkward for Rashford, Flick was swift to clarify that the substitution was purely fitness-related. After the match, he explained: "We're being very careful with Marcus because he just came from an injury and he hasn't started training completely with the ball. He's a week behind the others. He hasn't been training as much with the ball, and we want to look after him."
Rashford returned to action on Thursday during Barcelona's 7-3 thrashing of FC Seoul, again entering for the second period in place of Raphinha. However, on this occasion, he completed the entire 45 minutes, even setting up Ferran Torres' 88th-minute goal.