Marcus Rashford, the Manchester United forward, is reportedly willing to take a significant pay cut to secure a move to Barcelona. The 26-year-old has expressed his desire to leave Old Trafford, seeking a fresh challenge in Europe after publicly announcing his intentions last December.
Several clubs have shown interest in Rashford, with talks taking place between his agent, Dwaine Maynard, and AC Milan earlier this month. Despite these discussions, no agreement was reached with the Serie A giants.
Juventus and Borussia Dortmund have also registered their interest, while Premier League side West Ham briefly explored signing him before turning their attention to Ajax’s Brian Brobbey and RB Leipzig’s Andre Silva.
Rashford has already rejected offers from the Saudi Pro League, prioritizing staying in Europe to boost his chances of returning to England’s national team under manager Thomas Tuchel.
His preferred destination is Barcelona, though Manchester United has insisted that any deal would require the buying club to cover at least half of his £325,000-a-week wages.
Reports from the Daily Star reveal that Rashford is prepared to sacrifice part of his salary to facilitate a move to the Catalan giants.
However, Barcelona’s ongoing financial difficulties complicate the situation. The club recently faced challenges registering players like Dani Olmo and Pau Victor, raising questions about their ability to meet United’s conditions.
Speaking on the club’s current stance, Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, emphasized the need to focus on immediate priorities. “Our main aim is to renew existing contracts and strengthen where possible,” Deco said. “For now, we’re satisfied with the squad, but future signings remain a possibility.”
With Rashford’s determination to join Barcelona and the Spanish club’s financial constraints, the coming weeks could prove pivotal in determining the forward’s next move.