There is A LOT of reports coming out about Marcus Rashford, as ever. I mean, this guy can't even fart in peace without there being a story about him (more on this later).
The United forward has been on loan with Aston Villa since January and for the remainder of the season but as per David Ornstein, we know that that season is over after the 27 year old suffered a hamstring injury that ended what has been a reasonable loan spell at Villa Park prematurely.
The Sun Football are saying that due to this injury, Rashford could return to United early from his loan despite there still being four league games left for Villa via Transfer News Live.
But more bad news for Villa is that the Englishman does NOT want to remain with Unai Emery's side. According to the Disco Mirror, Rashford "wants to make a move to Barcelona and is willing to take a pay cut to make it happen" via Transfer News Live.
There's been multiple links between Rashford and Barcelona over the years so this shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. However, after having a good spell with Villa, some would've thought that maybe this would be a good fit for him even if just for a season. As I said, he is 27 meaning he has enough time in his career left. Rashford is also quite fit with his only physical issue being the injuries. He could stay at Villa for a year or two, continue to improve his form and still look for that big move to a Barcelona thereafter.
While yes, it's ended early and not in the manner he nor Villa would've wanted (they were even knocked out of the FA Cup and Champions League during Rashford's loan spell), I do believe he did enough to warrant a move to the Villans.
During his time with them, Rashford's stats are decent:
Games - 17
Starts - 10
Goals - 4
Assists - 5
1 goal involvement every 104 minutes
via Aston Villa Statto.
With these numbers, it means that Rashford has another season of 20 goals and assists when adding his output from his time with United. This included a period of a month of not being selected by Ruben Amorim showing that Rashy still has it.
Whether these numbers and his performances are enough to convinve Barcelona is another matter. Looking at them this season, all of Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal have been next level and are the reason why they are performing so well in an attacking sense.
Raphinha is performing at a Ballon d'Or level with 30 goals and 23 assists in 50 matches with Lewandowski on 40 goals and 3 assists in 48 matches while the 17 year old Yamal sits on 14 goals and 24 assists. We know that Rashford is capable of such numbers but is he still capable is the question.
20 g/a isn't bad but it isn't at the level of those at Barcelona, those whom he would have to compete with for a place in their team.
In the last hour, Tribal Football has said that Barcelona "are keen" on bringing in the United forward but on their own terms. "Barca would prefer to set up a loan arrangement with United for next season and will also push for Rashford's parent club to cover a percentage of his £325,000-a-week wages."
I'm not sure whether United will welcome such a move because one of the main reasons for trying to move him on was those high wages. United's wage bill is quite ridiculous when looking at the amounts paid per week and to whom and is one of the areas that INEOS have to try and improve should they want to save money at the club.
This loan to Villa saw the Villans cover 75% of that £325k-a-week wage which did help United.
Villa do have the option of buying Rashford for £40m which also happens to be the same amount for Barcelona who are "unwilling to pay" that asking price [Pete Hall, TheiPaperSport] via centredevils.
Going back to that fart I mentioned earlier, it seems that no matter what this guy does, he will face scrutiny.
Rashford was seen at the boxing match between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn at Wembley on Saturday night. For this, Rashford faced a hell of a lot of backlash just for going out and watching the boxing. This was also after it was confirmed that he was injured for the rest of the season so it's not as if he has any more football to worry about.
Ex-Spurs player Jamie O'Hara said he was "disappointed" with Rashford for going to the boxing as "that is for me, where he is out of touch with reality." Villa had just lost 3-0 in the FA Cup semifinal to Crystal Palace which is why O'Hara was saying this.
Yet in the clip they were showing of Rashford on Sky Sports, he was sitting next to Declan Rice. The Arsenal midfielder had arguably a bigger game coming during the week which was last night's 1-0 defeat to PSG in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal. Nothing was said of him.
It gets even better as there was a picture of Rice with Ollie Watkins, Rashford's teammate who played in that 3-0 defeat. Again, nothing said of him.
Why is it that with Rashford there always seems to be this type of unnecessary negativity thrown towards him? He was also pictured at Wembley with his mother ahead of Villa's semifinal so he was supporting his team in what way he could.
I have a lot of criticism towards Rashford because of how poor he's been at United but things like this do him no good and as I said, is quite unnecessary. He does have a life. Surely he can enjoy it as he sees fit?
This also isn't one of those instances where he went out drinking in Ireland and missing training. That is when we have a problem.
Speaking of him in this way may also not help him with any potential move as those clubs may think otherwise when trying to sign him.
Do I think he'd work at Barca though?
He would firstly have to try and get in the team which is the hardest thing to do. Unless injuries or loss of form occurs to their front three, I can't see him playing as much as he would like. Sure whenever Hansi Flick deems it necessary to rest, rotate or substitute one of his star men, then Rashford would be perfect to use.
But I doubt that this is what Rashford wants. He probably wants to be a regular starter for them which isn't what I think he's going to get.
With all that being said, I think it would be a good move him. Barca are a great club and one of the greatest in history. They are definitely on the up and a player of Rashford's quality and experience could help them improve even further still.
Whether they would like all of the attention he brings is also something to consider. Flick seems to have gotten his players tied down in terms of that discipline and as we know, Rashy can be a little il-discipline himself even when he had a disciplinarian of a manager like Erik ten Hag. He will have to change his ways as well.
What do you make about all this Rashford news? Will he work at Barca? Will he play as much as he would like? And what about all this unnecessary criticism?
Let me know down below ⬇.