Marcus Rashford has his sights set on achieving something he never managed at Manchester United
Marcus Rashford on the bench
Marcus Rashford is within touching distance of achieving his 'dream'(Image: 2026 Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA)
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Marcus Rashford's dream of winning the Champions League has moved a step closer after Barcelona stormed into the quarter-finals in dominant fashion.
The La Liga giants dismantled Newcastle 7-2 on Wednesday evening, completing an 8-3 aggregate success and bringing the Magpies' European campaign to an abrupt end.
Even though Rashford was left on the bench for the second leg, he has still made a meaningful contribution to Barcelona's run to the last eight, netting five times and supplying four assists across nine Champions League matches so far.
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Next up for Barca is an all-Spanish showdown against Atletico Madrid, who advanced at Tottenham's expense. With only five games standing between them and European glory, Barcelona can begin to imagine a first Champions League title since 2015 - a feat that would also realise one of Rashford's biggest dreams.
Soon after completing his loan switch from Manchester United at the start of the season, the England forward revealed that winning the Champions League was his primary objective.
"For sure. I think everybody dreams of winning the Champions League, so now I'm with Barcelona, the dream is with Barcelona," Rashford said in September. "I hope we can win the tournament, but there's a lot of really good competition, so we have to take it game by game and just keep trying to push and trying to improve as a team."
Marcus Rashford smiling
Rashford has been loving life in Barcelona(Image: Getty )
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Rashford's record in European competitions includes a Europa League winner's medal from 2017, though he has never progressed beyond the Champions League quarter-finals - reaching that stage only once with United, who were coincidentally eliminated by Barcelona that season. Now, he has an opportunity to surpass that milestone with the same club that once stopped him.
The 28-year-old has put together a solid season at Camp Nou after a challenging conclusion to his time at Old Trafford, where a disagreement with then-manager Ruben Amorim effectively ended his spell at his boyhood side. Across 38 outings this season, Rashford has registered 10 goals and 13 assists, performances that have helped him re-enter the England frame.
However, his form has dipped recently. He has gone 11 matches without scoring and has started just three games since late January, with Hansi Flick increasingly preferring attacking players such as Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Ferran Torres, Robert Lewandowski and Fermin Lopez.
Marcus Rashford of FC Barcelona warms up
Marcus Rashford was an unused substitute against Newcastle United(Image: Getty Images)
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The timing is not ideal. Rashford is aiming not only to secure a spot in Thomas Tuchel's upcoming England squad but also to build a case for a permanent transfer to Barcelona.
The loan agreement includes a £26million purchase option, and while the club are believed to be pleased with his overall impact, an extended slump could still affect their final decision.
For now, Barcelona continue their push - and Rashford remains within touching distance of European football's greatest prize, even if his involvement in the closing stages remains unclear.