"Rashford is a fantastic player" - Deco admits pride in signing Rashford

Barça will attempt to secure Marcus on a permanent deal.

Details: 48-year-old Portuguese Deco, a former Barcelona player and now the club's sporting director, offered a candid assessment of 28-year-old Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford, who is currently playing for the Blaugrana on loan:

"Marcus Rashford is a fantastic player. And he is happy with us. He had to shoulder the responsibility of becoming a key player for Manchester United at a very young age—and United, like us, is one of the biggest clubs in the world.

He also found it a bit challenging to cope with the generational change at United. If you look at Manchester United's performances over the past five years, it's clear the club has struggled to rebuild and return to its previous level. And he was there throughout. So it's not easy for a player with such high expectations placed on him. When you're an important player, there's a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. We were searching the market for a player like him—someone who can play across all three attacking positions. We managed to secure Marcus on loan because he wanted to play for Barcelona. He hesitated for a long time. He knew about our financial difficulties, but he showed patience. He waited, and we're delighted to have him here." Deco stated.

Rashford joined Barça on loan this summer, as the Catalan club could not afford a permanent transfer due to financial constraints. Since his arrival, Rashford has featured in 18 matches for the Catalans, scoring 6 goals and providing 9 assists.

His loan deal with Barcelona runs until the summer of 2026, and it remains unclear whether Barcelona will trigger a permanent transfer. According to Transfermarkt, Rashford's market value is estimated at 40 million euros.

Reminder: Barcelona cannot count on Araújo due to his mental health struggles