English forward Marcus Rashford, who is currently on loan at Aston Villa from Manchester United, was previously considered a potential signing by Barcelona during the winter transfer window.
Reports from Spain indicated that the Catalan club’s management initially viewed Rashford as a valuable addition and were eager to secure him on loan. However, the move ultimately fell through, leading to his transfer to Aston Villa instead.
According to Football Spain, Barcelona’s head coach, Hansi Flick, along with the club’s sporting director, Deco, were both in favor of acquiring Rashford. The proposal was seriously evaluated, and there was a strong interest in reinforcing the squad with his attacking prowess. Despite their enthusiasm, the transfer did not gain unanimous approval within the club.
The Spanish publication Sport revealed that several key players from Barcelona’s first team were against Rashford’s arrival. Among those who opposed the signing were midfielders Pedri and Gavi, as well as star striker Robert Lewandowski. Their concerns primarily revolved around the financial implications of signing a high-profile player like Rashford for just six months.
Given Barcelona’s strict adherence to La Liga’s 1:1 wage rule, which limits their ability to sign new players based on their financial constraints, these players felt that committing significant funds to a short-term deal was not a wise move.
With internal opposition from key squad members and financial restrictions in play, Barcelona ultimately decided against pursuing Rashford.
Instead, they opted to maintain their existing squad without making such a costly short-term investment. As a result, Rashford completed a loan move to Aston Villa, where he will remain until the end of the season.
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