Robin Bairner
Marcus Rashford, Barcelona, 2025/26
© IMAGO
Barcelona have produced a surprise for Marcus Rashford just hours before their La Liga campaign begins with a fixture against Mallorca away from home.
After Rashford was signed on a loan deal from Manchester United, the Catalan side had major headaches getting him registered in time to play the opening competitive match of the season.
Against the odds, the 27-year-old attacker has been named in Hansi Flick’s 23-man squad to face Mallorca.
Restrictions placed upon Barcelona due to Financial Fair Play (FFP) breaches have meant that as many as six players were left sweating upon their registration ahead of the opening game of the season.
Wojciech Szczesny, Hector Font, Gerard Martin and Roony Bardhji will miss the match due to this reason, but there is more positive news for goalkeeper Joan Garcia and Rashford, the club’s two marquee summer signings.
Although neither had been registered with La Liga when the squad was named, both were cleared for action on the association's official website within minutes by the authorities.
Both are likely to have starring roles to play as Flick’s side begin their title defence.
Joan Garcia, who signed from Espanyol in a high-profile summer deal, will start in goal as Marc-Andre ter Stegen is missing due to injury while Wojciech Szczesny is another player who is not registered yet.
Rashford, meanwhile, could well fill the No.9 role because Robert Lewandowski is absent due to a physical complaint. The Englishman’s strong performances in pre-season have forced Flick into a rethink of his role. Initially, he was signed as a left winger, with Ferran Torres the preferred alternative to Lewandowski, yet he could now be used through the middle.
Barcelona may not be at full strength for this opening match, but at least the eleventh-hour registration of Joan Garcia and Rashford means that Flick still has a strong squad to select from.