Marcus Rashford is expected to leave United this summer.
Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford is willing to take a significant pay cut to secure his “dream transfer” this summer.
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The 27-year-old, who was loaned to Aston Villa in February with a £40m purchase option, has yet to announce his next move, but it is expected that he will leave Old Trafford in the coming months.
According to BBC Sport, neither Rashford nor his representatives believe that Ruben Amorim wants to keep him in the United squad, while several clubs from across Europe are showing interest.
Champions League finalist Inter Milan have added Rashford to their summer list, claiming club executives believe he could be “a key buy” and will generate excitement among fans.
Paris Saint-Germain are also showing interest, but the club that keeps popping up in the discussions is Barcelona. Sporting director Deco was recently asked about a possible transfer for Rashford – and he did not dismiss the idea.
“We have focused on contract renewals and then we will discuss new players,” Deco told BBC Sport. “These two players [Rashford and Luis Díaz] are good, but they have contracts with their clubs, so we don’t want to talk about them – it’s not fair. But when we go out on the market, surely we find some names. We don’t need to bring in many players. When I talk to agents, everyone will either come or stay.”
He added: “This is important. The club’s image is still good. We are proud because Barcelona is still such a big club, and the way we play football makes players want to come.”
According to Marca, Rashford is so eager to become part of Barcelona’s project that he is willing to take a significant pay cut to adapt to the club’s financial situation. The striker currently earns around £350,000 a week.
“The player’s salary at Manchester United is very high,” the report reads. “He earns around 18 million euros a year. If he goes to Barcelona, it will be for much less money.”
Rashford made 17 appearances in all competitions for Aston Villa last year, ten of them in the Premier League, and scored four goals during his prolific loan spell at Villa Park.
Last month, he expressed gratitude for his stay: “A thank you message to everyone at Villa for (injuries except) an incredibly nice period for me,” he wrote on social media. “This is a really special club and I really appreciate how the Villa fans embraced me from the first minute on the pitch. The manager, the team and the coaching staff have all been fantastic. I know it’s a big disappointment not to have qualified for the Champions League after all the hard work, but I know this club and this team will come back stronger.”
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