The Barcelona striker is currently on loan at the La Liga club for the 2025/26 season.
Marcus Rashford could reportedly be forced to return to Manchester United at the end of his season-long loan at Barcelona, despite the fact that the player has already made it clear that he wants to stay at the La Liga giants beyond the current season.
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Rashford, 28, has not played for his parent club since December 2024, before being loaned to Aston Villa for the second half of the 2024/25 season following a conflict with then-Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim.
After his brief stay at Villa Park, the England international signed a season-long loan deal with Barcelona in the summer of 2025, and has since seen a rise in form, with ten goals and thirteen assists in thirty-eight appearances for Hansi Flick’s side, who currently top the Spanish top flight, four points ahead of Real Madrid after twenty-seven games.
Rashford has a clause baked into the loan that gives Barcelona the opportunity to buy him for an alleged sum of £26 million.
However, despite the fact that Rashford has made it quite clear that he is enjoying his time at Catalonia and wants to make the transfer permanent, his wish may not come true.
As reported by Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are monitoring the situation of Chelsea winger Pedro Neto.
The Portugal international, who arrived in the Blues from Wolves for a sum of £54 million in August 2024, can play on either wing, although he has mainly featured on the right wing during his time at Stamford Bridge.
The 26-year-old has so far produced ten goals and six assists during the current season, which has apparently piqued Barcelona’s interest in his potential.
Should Barcelona develop their interest into official contact, a potential transfer could be facilitated because the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has a good relationship with the Catalan club.
Neto is contracted to Chelsea until 2031, after signing a seven-year contract upon arrival at the club.
Another factor that could affect Rashford’s future is Barcelona’s presidential election on March 15.
Current president Joan Laporta reportedly wants to sign Rashford, whose weekly wage of £315,000 is covered by Barcelona, and is the favorite to win the upcoming election.
However, if Víctor Font wins, it is unclear how this could affect Rashford’s Barcelona future.
Font has already made it clear that he intends to sign Manchester City striker Erling Haaland if he is chosen.
Marc Ciria and Xavier Vilajoana are also running for president.
Given Rashford’s salary, it is unlikely that he will be reintegrated into United’s squad if Barcelona decide not to extend his stay, and where this leaves the striker is unclear.
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Rashford has a contract with United until 2028.
