Marcus Rashford has already reached double figures for goals and assists at Barcelona as the club prepare for a summer transfer decision on the Manchester United loanee
Marcus Rashford during his loan spell at Barcelona
Marcus Rashford during his loan spell at Barcelona(Image: Icon Sport via Getty Images)
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Barcelona loanee Marcus Rashford hasn't had the opportunity to play a Champions League final for his parent club but has a chance of realising that dream at Camp Nou. The England star had to wait for an opportunity to turn out at Barca's iconic home ground after their return to the redeveloped venue was delayed but the best could be yet to come.
Rashford has already been handed his first minutes at the ground after it reopened - initially with a reduced capacity. There's a chance he could play there on the biggest of stages, though, with Barcelona announcing a desire for the stadium to host the 2029 Champions League final.
"FC Barcelona hereby formally expresses its intention to participate, together with Barcelona City Council and the Government of Catalonia, in the initial bidding process to host the 2029 Champions League Final, proposing the city of Barcelona as a potential host and Spotify Camp Nou as the proposed venue, subject to the corresponding certification and approval by UEFA, and with the support of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF)," the club said in a statement. "This process forms part of a preliminary phase of analysis and assessment.
"The club and the institutions involved have submitted the initial required documentation with the aim of advancing the procedure and enabling UEFA to assess the suitability of the bid, in accordance with the established protocols. The formal submission of the final bid and the delivery of the complete dossier, including all the documentation required to be considered as host of the final, are scheduled for early June 2026."
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Rashford was part of a Manchester United side beaten 3-0 at Camp Nou in the 2018/19 Champions League. Despite that defeat, the stadium itself left its mark on the Englishman.
"Atmosphere-wise, I’d probably say I enjoyed Nou Camp," Rashford said when asked on The Overlap in 2023 about his favourite stadium. "The first time we played there we got beat 3-0. We had a couple of chances and I hit the crossbar early on.
"I think Paul [Pogba] had a shot that clipped the post and this was all at 0-0. Once they got the first goal, the crowd was different. Every time [Lionel] Messi got on the ball it was daunting and the crowd were shouting to make the backline nervous. It was all a mess after they scored the first goal."
Marcus Rashford during Barcelona vs Manchester United in 2019
Rashford played for Manchester United at Camp Nou in 2019(Image: Enric Fontcuberta/EPA-EFE/REX)
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Barcelona and Manchester United faced off in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals but haven't met in the competition since that 2019 clash. Camp Nou was also the venue for United's famous 1999 final victory over Bayern Munich - the last time the winners were crowned in Catalunya.
Rashford could soon get the chance not just to play a final at a stadium he admires but to do so as a Barcelona player. That would require Camp Nou to be awarded that 2029 final, while the player himself would need to do enough between now and the end of the season to earn a permanent transfer.
He also set his sights high when moving to the club and was asked about the Champions League after Barca reached the semis last year. A fifth-place finish in the league phase has sent them straight through to the round of 16 where they will meet Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, Newcastle United or Qarabag.
"It is what the club was fighting for last year and they were very close and I hope they can take the next step this year," Rashford said when he joined. "This is a historic club and they are known for winning the biggest prizes. I am here to help the club do that. It is a dream of mine for sure."
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The 28-year-old has 10 goals and 13 assists so far during his loan spell, setting up a Ronald Araujo goal during a midweek Copa del Rey win away at Albacete. He was also on target in a victory over Elche on Saturday, earning praise from manager Hansi Flick, with Barca set to make a summer decision on whether to exercise a £26million permanent option for their loanee.
"I think he has a lot of potential to show," Flick said after the Elche win. "We always focus on goals, the final pass, because this is one of the ways you can measure things, and he’s doing well in that regard.
"There’s always room for improvement. But with his speed and technique, he can give us so much more. I’m delighted with what he’s giving us, but he has much more potential. I want everyone to be at their best.
"It’s about mentality, attitude during training… That’s what we want to see. Always striving to be better."