Former Barcelona president Joan Gaspart has delivered his verdict on the club's summer transfer business, including the arrival of Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United
Marcus Rashford looks on
Marcus Rashford made his debut against Vissel Kobe last month(Image: Getty Images)
Former Barcelona president Joan Gaspart has claimed that Marcus Rashford is superior to Nico Williams.
The England international joined Barcelona on a season-long loan from Manchester United earlier this summer, with an option to buy for £26million, as his long-term future at Old Trafford remains uncertain. At 27 years old and in the prime of his career, Rashford is considered one of the most successful graduates of Manchester United's academy.
However, he fell out of favour with new manager Ruben Amorim last season and was subsequently loaned to Aston Villa in February. With his future at Old Trafford still unclear, Rashford has now joined Barcelona for the upcoming season.
His move to Catalonia wasn't straightforward, however, as Barcelona had shown interest in other players before settling on the forward. The La Liga giants had expressed interest in Liverpool's Luis Diaz, but were informed that the Colombian was not for sale.
They also came close to finalising a deal for Athletic Club's Williams, only for it to collapsed at the last minute due to reported disagreements over a release clause and La Liga registration, reports the Mirror. Williams ultimately chose to stay with Athletic Bilbao, penning a decade-long extension that commits him to the Estadio de San Mamés until 2035, while Barcelona secured Rashford on loan.
Despite some supporters potentially feeling let down for not capturing Spanish international Williams, Gaspart holds the view that Rashford outshines the 23-year-old winger. In conversation with El 10 de Barca, Gaspart said: "First of all, for me, Marcus Rashford is better than Nico.
"From here on, I don't care what Inaki [Williams, Nico's brother] might say. The player has used us in a good way – he's gotten a good contract, and I'm happy for him. I don't understand Athletic's anger.
Joan Gaspart looks on
Joan Gaspart has given his opinion of Marcus Rashford
"I've signed many players from Bilbao, and always got along with their president. This is in the past. We have to focus on the season and trust the squad and the exceptional coach we have."
Meanwhile, Inaki has criticised Barcelona for their approach to his brother's potential move, accusing them of initiating a "media campaign" to entice his sibling away from Bilbao. He claimed: "They launched a media campaign they thought would work. Many of the things said were lies. People weren't fair to my brother this summer."
He added: "The external noise ruined a lot. At Athletic, we go about things quietly. We don't leak false stories to pressure players," and also said: "My brother had options everywhere. But he stayed. He'll play with his family, friends, and girlfriend close by. That means more than money or trophies."
Marcus Rashford holds his Barcelona shirt up
Marcus Rashford has signed a loan deal with Barcelona
Rashford made his unofficial debut for Barcelona in a pre-season friendly against Vissel Kobe last month, coming on as a substitute for Raphinha at half-time, but was on the pitch for just 30 minutes before being replaced. From the outside, Rashford's early substitution might have seemed somewhat discourteous, yet Barcelona's manager Hansi Flick promptly clarified the situation, attributing it to a strategic move to manage the player's fitness levels.
Following the 3-1 victory, Flick said: "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."