Spanish media outlets have been tearing into Marcus Rashford after the England international squandered a golden opportunity for Barcelona in a pre-season game at the weekend
Marcus Rashford has endured a torrid start to life at Barcelona after producing what some are calling “the miss of the season”. The Manchester United loanee netted his first goal for the club during their commanding 5-0 pre-season win against Daegu last week – but any positive momentum was quickly erased in Sunday’s equally commanding 5-0 victory over Como, where he shockingly failed to score from just eight yards out with an open goal gaping.
Following a clever through ball from Lamine Yamal, Rashford neatly jinked past the goalkeeper and a defender to leave himself with an easy finish. But instead of scoring, his left-footed shot agonizingly missed the target, rolling inches wide of the post. He was substituted a few minutes later.
With Robert Lewandowski sidelined due to injury, Rashford has a golden chance to convince manager Hansi Flick that he is more than just a squad player. However, his glaring miss versus Como sparked major doubts about his quality, confidence, and suitability for the No. 9 position.
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Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo declared that “it is clear he [Rashford] is not a natural No. 9.” Meanwhile, AS went further, criticising his “strange performance” filled with “notable errors in execution, especially in his attempt to provide continuity in the play with his back to goal.”
On the Spanish radio show El Larguero, commentator Jordi Marti said Rashford “left me cold,” expressing frustration: “The expectations I had of him in that No. 9 position have left me cold. But I’ve seen him do better on the wing; when he takes on the ball, he does so with power and accurate assists.”
“But today was an important day for him. Lewandowski will be out for the next few weeks, and these are the games he needs to take advantage of.”
After falling out with United manager Ruben Amorim, Rashford – who spent the latter half of last season on loan at Aston Villa – made it clear he wanted to leave the club this summer, with Barcelona his top choice.
The Catalan side initially targeted Nico Williams and Luiz Diaz, but after those deals collapsed, they shifted their focus to Rashford. A loan agreement was quickly sealed, including a £30million option for Barcelona to sign the 27-year-old permanently next summer.
Rashford’s versatility played a significant role in the transfer, with Flick valuing his capacity to perform both as a striker and winger. However, he may have to wait before officially debuting, as Barcelona have yet to register him.
The registration holdups stem from La Liga’s Financial Fair Play rules, which consistently challenge the Catalan club. To add new players and extend contracts, Barcelona need to free up enough salary space.
A breakthrough came when the issue involving Marc-Andre ter Stegen was resolved. His back injury and initial refusal to certify a long-term absence complicated the registration of new goalkeeper Joan Garcia. Ter Stegen’s recent consent to sign a medical document has now paved the way for Garcia’s registration, but Rashford’s paperwork is still pending.
Barcelona have until the end of August to finalise player registrations for the upcoming campaign. This means Rashford could still be included in the squad after the La Liga opener against Mallorca this weekend, even if he doesn’t play immediately.
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