Marcus Rashford: Why do Barcelona want to sign the Manchester United forward?

Rashford's departure from Old Trafford has been a relatively long time coming.

Manager Ruben Amorim dropped him for the Manchester derby on 15 December last year - and he has not played for United since.

Amorim later criticised Rashford for a perceived lack of effort, suggesting that he would rather give a place on the bench to his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach than someone who "doesn't give the maximum every day".

He joined Aston Villa on loan in January, making 17 appearances and earning an England recall, but returned to Old Trafford last month with his longer-term future still uncertain.

However, that uncertainty has been more about where he would go rather than whether he would stay, with Rashford one of five players who told the club they wanted to leave - and who were subsequently told to train separately from the rest of the squad.

"There is no doubt a fully-motivated, focused and determined Marcus Rashford would walk into Ruben Amorim's team," said BBC Sport's chief football news reporter Simon Stone.

"But, in reality, that Rashford has only been seen for one full season since 2021 and the campaign that led to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer getting sacked.

"There were signs of the old Rashford during his half season loan at Villa - but there were also games where he didn't perform so well.

"Offloading an unwanted player to Barcelona is bizarre for a club in Manchester United's position. But that is where they are right now. What they have to do is maximise the opportunity.

"At Old Trafford, they cannot worry about optics. They have to deliver a squad Amorim can drive up the table."

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