Shining in El Clasico, Rashford sends a strong message to Ruben Amorim

Marcus Rashford keeps affirming his value at Barcelona with a notable performance in El Clasico even though the Catalonia team was defeated 1-2 by Real Madrid.

Joining Barcelona on a one-year loan last summer, Rashford left Old Trafford after being dropped from the starting lineup by Amorim since the Portuguese coach took charge in November last year. Prior to that, he had a late-season loan spell at Aston Villa during 2024/25 but still failed to regain Amorim’s trust.

However, since arriving in Spain, Rashford has experienced a strong revival. He has scored 5 goals and provided 5 assists in 13 matches across all competitions for Barca, a much better rate than his final period at Man Utd. In Sunday’s El Clasico, the 27-year-old forward continued his brilliant form by assisting Fermin Lopez’s equalizer at 1-1 after a clever combination with Alejandro Balde in the 38th minute.

That moment perfectly showcased Rashford’s instinct and team spirit: smart movement, stretching Real Madrid’s defense, then delivering a precise pass for Fermin to finish past Thibaut Courtois. Though Barcelona couldn’t hold the lead as Jude Bellingham scored the decisive goal for Real before halftime, Rashford remained one of the standout players of the match.

The British media regard Rashford’s form at Barca as a “warning” to Amorim, who might have been too hasty in sidelining one of Carrington’s most talented graduates.

According to Sofascore, the English star made a significant impact with 1 assist for Fermin Lopez’s opening goal. Additionally, Rashford created one clear chance, completed 4 key passes, and achieved an 82% passing accuracy, including 100% in his own half. He also showed attacking dynamism with 5 dribbles (2 successful) and 4 crosses, 2 accurate, frequently unsettling Real Madrid’s defense.

Under the current agreement, Barcelona holds the option to buy Rashford outright for about £30 million after the 2025/26 season, a figure considered a “great bargain” if he continues to shine in La Liga and the Champions League. Meanwhile, Manchester United maintain steady form with three consecutive wins against Sunderland, Liverpool, and Brighton.