Renowned football journalist Guillem Balague has strongly refuted circulating claims that Barcelona are planning to cut short Marcus Rashford’s loan deal and return him prematurely to Manchester United.
The speculation began after Spanish outlet El Nacional reported that the Catalan giants were dissatisfied with Rashford’s form since joining the club, suggesting that the club hierarchy was considering an early termination of his loan arrangement—a move that could reportedly cost Barca around £4 million in penalties and settlement fees.
So far this season, Rashford has only managed three La Liga appearances under head coach Hansi Flick. Out of these, he has started just once, a match against Levante where he was substituted at halftime, further fueling speculation about his future at Camp Nou. Critics in the Spanish press have used his limited impact as evidence that the player might not fit into Flick’s tactical plans.
Balague, however, has come out to rubbish the rumours, branding them “absolutely rubbish” and stressing that Barcelona still has faith in the England forward. He revealed that club officials have privately assured Rashford’s representatives that they remain confident in his potential and fully expect him to bounce back and regain top form. “Barca told his representative that they have a lot of confidence in Rashford’s potential and that they believe he will recover as a top player,” Balague stated in his clarification.
He further aligned himself with former England international Gary Lineker, who recently criticised the way Rashford has been treated in some sections of the media. Balague noted that the narrative being pushed is not reflective of the reality within Barcelona’s camp, where Rashford continues to receive backing from both management and teammates.
Rashford’s move to Barcelona came during the summer transfer window after he was sidelined at Manchester United by new manager Ruben Amorim, who controversially relegated the England international to what was described as the “bomb squad”—a group of unwanted players excluded from first-team training. The switch to Spain was seen as a fresh start for the attacker, who had struggled with consistency and injuries during his final months at Old Trafford.
Despite his slow start in Spain, Balague insists that Rashford is still very much part of Barcelona’s long-term plan, and the idea of terminating his loan is not on the table. “No more to say, apart from the fact I agree with Gary Lineker and his treatment by some media,” he added, calling for patience as Rashford continues to adapt to life in La Liga and Flick’s system.
With the season still in its early stages, fans will be watching closely to see whether Rashford can silence critics and prove himself in one of Europe’s most demanding football environments.