Marcus Rashford seems to have gotten off to a good start at Barcelona. The Englishman arrived somewhat as a backup option, but he has proven that his signing was a wise move with the minutes he has played in preseason, even scoring a goal. However, Raphinha is very much Raphinha and it will be difficult for him to become a starter, although there is also the option of playing as a center forward, complicating life for Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. The competition is on.
A signing marked as plan B
Barcelona has been looking for a left winger for a couple of summers, with Nico Williams being their biggest obsession. Last summer, it was a persistent rumor, but it faded into the background. However, this year it has been the soap opera of the summer. It was announced with great fanfare that the player was convinced he would be joining the Azulgrana team and the deal was almost done when, like a bombshell, Athletic Club announced his ten-year contract renewal. The main problem with his signing was that the player wanted real guarantees of registration and the club could not give them to him.
Beyond Nico Williams, Barcelona always had Luis Díaz in mind, but the Colombian winger from Liverpool was too expensive and Bayern’s appearance on the scene complicated everything. That’s where Marcus Rashford came in, who had always been on the radar but had never quite convinced. Manchester United did not count on him and were open to loaning him out with an option to buy, which suited Barça’s finances perfectly. He arrived as a plan B, but he has shown that it was his dream to come to Barça and he has done so with hunger and ambition.
Good preseason for Rashford
That’s what he’s shown during the preseason. The English striker has demonstrated his commitment and desire to be an important player in both friendly matches. He has left a very good impression of what he can give the team this season. He looked motivated and eager. Playing as a winger, he sought out one-on-one situations and was intense in defense, helping his teammates. In the last game, he changed position and played as a striker, where he found the net to score his first goal for Barça. “It’s been a good preseason and we’re ready for the start of the season. I’ve settled in quite well and I’m adapting to the team and the coach,” the player acknowledged at the end of the Asian tour.
Competition for Raphinha… and for Lewandowski and Ferran Torres
Marcus Rashford is well aware that he must be at his best if he wants to get playing time with the Azulgranas. Barcelona has already signed him to be the alternative to Raphinha on the left wing and give the Brazilian a break so he can be fresher for the big games.
The Barça player is not afraid of the Englishman’s arrival. Speaking to Diario Sport, Raphinha said: “When you play for this club, you need to be prepared for all the competition there is. In my opinion, the more competition we have, the better. It means that we help each other to progress, and that’s the most important thing if we want to win titles.”
He is not the only one who should be on alert with the arrival of Rashford. The player can also play as a pure striker, which is how he scored his first goal of the preseason. “Rashford can be a ‘11’ or he can be a ‘9’,” confirmed Flick after Barça’s third and final win on their recent tour of Asia. Playing as a nine in the last game, he offered a dynamic, powerful and vertical performance that convinced Flick. This performance directly affects Ferran Torres, who is coming off a great season as the favorite replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who will also have to prove he is at his best.
Rashford confident of registration
With less than a week to go before the start of LaLiga, Marcus Rashford is not yet registered with FC Barcelona. The club expects this issue to be resolved in the coming days and that there will be no problem for Saturday 16th against Mallorca in the opening game of the league. A few days ago, the English player expressed his total confidence in the club and that this will be the case. “I’m not worried about my registration. I think it’s something the club has to resolve, and I’m confident it will happen. I’m focused on training and being ready for the start of the season,” he said. The goal for the season is clear: “Everyone wants to win the Champions League. Last year was fantastic, and now we have to try to recreate that and improve on it by winning it,” he said.