Barca is 'shocked' by MU's transfer fee for Rashford

Barcelona is surprised by Manchester United's stance on Marcus Rashford, the English forward currently excelling at Camp Nou and regarded as a great value in the transfer market.

Barcelona has drawn attention in the transfer market after president Joan Laporta expressed being "deeply shocked" by the fee Manchester United set for Marcus Rashford. The English striker completed a season-long loan to Camp Nou in July and immediately proved his worth, scoring 3 goals and providing 5 assists in just 10 matches, giving Barcelona a reliable option upfront.

According to The Mirror, Barcelona aims to activate the €30 million (£26 million) buyout clause to secure Rashford permanently next summer. Sources from the Spanish club emphasized: "At his peak, Marcus Rashford is among the best players in Europe. Barca has truly gotten a bargain. Marcus should actually be valued at over £60 million (€69 million) in today’s market."

With impressive performances in La Liga and the Champions League, Rashford quickly became a key player under coach Hansi Flick, especially as Lamine Yamal and Raphinha suffered injuries. He started 7 of Barcelona's 10 games across all competitions this season, proving his quick adaptation to Barcelona’s style of play.

Although Rashford’s estimated transfer value is currently €54.6 million, down from a peak of €82.7 million in November 2021, his recent consistent form has slightly increased his value by €2.4 million in the past month. Given this situation, Barcelona’s permanent signing of Rashford is seen as a reasonable deal to strengthen the Catalan club’s squad for their Champions League and La Liga ambitions.

However, Rashford’s future at Manchester United seems to have ended. After being sidelined by Ruben Amorim, the 1997-born player is unlikely to return to Old Trafford in 2026 even if Amorim is dismissed. Currently, a permanent contract with Barcelona is the most probable outcome, although PSG has been mentioned as a potential destination in recent years.

Marcus Rashford now has the chance to prove his worth at one of Europe’s top clubs while helping Barcelona complete their squad to compete for major trophies. Will Manchester United regret letting Rashford go for such a low fee? This question will surely spark much debate among football fans.