Marcus Rashford Barcelona Transfer: Englishman Holds No Ill Will Towards Manchester Utd

Marcus Rashford insists he harbours no ill will towards Manchester United, having sealed a season-long loan move to Barcelona.

Rashford has joined Barcelona on an initial 12-month deal, with the Blaugrana holding an option to make his stay permanent for €30m (£26m) next year.

Having made his United debut in February 2016, Rashford went on to make 426 appearances, scoring 138 goals and registering 60 assists.

Rashford had his best season in 2022-23, netting 30 times in all competitions as United finished third in the Premier League and won the EFL Cup, but he only netted eight further goals for the Red Devils before joining Aston Villa on loan in January.

Villa declined an option to purchase Rashford for £40m, and he was subsequently exiled from Ruben Amorim's squad when pre-season training got under way.

Amorim repeatedly criticised Rashford's approach to training, memorably saying he would rather select his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach, Jorge Vita, over Rashford.

But Rashford only has positive words for United, saying at his Barcelona unveiling: "The situation with Manchester United, the club is in a period of change, and they have been for a while. 

"I don't have anything bad to say about Manchester United. It's been an important part of not only my career but my life.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to play for them, but football is the same as life, and not everything goes as simply as you may have thought.

"This is my next step, my next chapter, and I am fully focused on trying to improve myself and help the team win trophies.

"I just wish United the best and hope they are successful in the future."

Rashford will wear the number 14 shirt for the Blaugrana, who open their LaLiga campaign at Rayo Vallecano on August 16.