Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Hansi Flick has responded publicly to Barcelona’s decision to pass on signing Marcus Rashford, who currently looks set to return to Manchester United for pre-season.
Despite registering 14 goals and 14 assists while on loan at Barcelona last season, the La Liga champions decided against signing Marcus Rashford, letting his buy option expire.
Rashford’s chances of returning to Barcelona appeared to be blown out of the water after they completed a £69m deal for Anthony Gordon from Newcastle.
Now, unless there’s a serious offer from another club, it looks like Rashford will be returning to Manchester United, when the initial plan was to get him off the wage book.
Marcus Rashford playing for England at the 2026 World Cup
Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Ollie Watkins Dusan Vlahovic
Ollie Watkins Dusan Vlahovic
Hansi Flick’s Marcus Rashford reflection reads like a subtle warning to Michael Carrick
Hansi Flick has spoken publicly for the first time about the end of Rashford’s loan, confirming he won’t be a Barcelona player for the 2026/27 season.
Although the Barcelona head coach acknowledged his departure will come as a loss to the team, there was also a subtle warning for Michael Carrick to consider – if he’s not already aware, having played with and coached the England international in the past.
Speaking to the press after a pre-season friendly against Birmingham, Flick asked about Barcelona not signing Rashford this summer, when he said (via Danyal Khan): “What I can say about Marcus is I appreciate working with him; sometimes it’s not always, you don’t know what happens with players who are on loan.
“Our situation is also not easy but I appreciate him a lot working with him, he’s a fantastic player, a fantastic person. I think also the team will miss him, I will miss him but that’s life.”
While it’s mostly praise from Flick, he does share some brutal truths like the “sometimes it’s not always” line after saying he appreciated working with him.
That would suggest that it wasn’t always plain sailing for Rashford at Barcelona, which, as explained above, is a subtle warning to the next coach to work with the 28-year-old.
None of what Flick said should come as a surprise to anyone connected with United, where he’s had his highs and lows.
⚡️ KEY TAKEAWAYS
Hansi Flick enjoyed working with Marcus Rashford and thinks he will be a loss at Barcelona
The Barcelona head coach hinted that it wasn’t always plain sailing with the Manchester United loanee
Rashford looks set to return to United before pre-season ends
Marcus Rashford leaves Barcelona with ‘special memories’
Rashford took to social media this week to thank Barcelona following the end of his loan spell.
On loan from United, Rashford played a role in Barcelona’s La Liga-winning campaign, but it wasn’t enough to convince them to sign him permanently.
Still, happy for the “special memories” he has at Barcelona, Rashford reflected positively on his loan at Camp Nou.
“I’m very grateful to everyone at the club for making my time here such a positive and memorable experience,” Rashford said in an Instagram post. “I’ve enjoyed every moment and will take many special memories with me.
“I wish the club and all its supporters the very best of luck and every success in the season ahead. Visca el Barça.”