Marcus Rashford could be on the move from Manchester United to Barcelona in a potential swap deal involving Ansu Fati, according to recent reports. United’s manager, Ruben Amorim, has reportedly dropped Rashford from the squad for key matches, indicating that the club might be willing to cash in on the England international to fund improvements to the team.
Rashford expressed a desire for a “new challenge” away from Old Trafford, and his absence from the squad during a recent defeat to Bournemouth further suggests his time at United may be coming to an end. Meanwhile, Barcelona’s boss, Hansi Flick, is reportedly open to the idea of trading Fati for Rashford, believing that Rashford could add versatility and effectiveness to the Catalan attack.
Fati, who struggled to make an impact during his loan spell at Brighton last season, has not convinced Flick of his value to the team. The swap could help both clubs; for Rashford, it would be a chance to reinvigorate his career, while Barcelona sees it as an opportunity to strengthen their forward options.
Former Premier League player Shaun Wright-Phillips commented on the situation, highlighting Rashford and teammate Alejandro Garnacho as casualties of Amorim’s tactical changes. He noted that both players are accustomed to playing wide but don’t fit into Amorim’s preferred formation, which utilizes wingbacks instead of traditional wide wingers.
Wright-Phillips believes Rashford and Garnacho may struggle to find their place in the current setup, suggesting that Amorim may need to adapt his approach or bring in players who better fit his vision. Negotiations between Barcelona and Manchester United for this potential swap are expected to be challenging, but there is optimism on the Catalan side about closing a deal before the winter transfer window ends.