Marcus Rashford criticizes MU again, increasing pressure to leave

In his latest interview, Marcus Rashford once more openly expressed his love for Barcelona and made sharp remarks about MU, the club that still holds his contract.

Since last season, Marcus Rashford has regarded transferring to Barcelona as his top priority. Last summer, he rejected all offers to wait for the Catalan giants. Rashford’s dream was fulfilled when Barcelona brought him in on loan at the start of the 2025/26 season.

Since then, Rashford has frequently appeared in the media to show his affection for Barcelona. The English star even is willing to speak negatively about Manchester United as a way to apply pressureforcing the Red Devils to let him join Barcelona.

Recently, Rashford made disparaging comments about the club where he grew up. In an interview with Sport during a charity event after visiting schools in Barcelona, Rashford said:

“There is pressure here too, but not the negative kind; it’s the kind of pressure you crave as a player, something I want and have always wanted. I can’t be in a place lacking high expectations. For me, it’s very hard to stay motivated and perform at my best at a club where the demands aren’t at the highest level.”.

Rashford’s statement was immediately linked to MU, a club still struggling in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. From being a dominant force in England, MU has sharply declined and even finished 15th last season.

Rashford was once expected to lead MU back to glory, but consistency has always eluded him. After an explosive season under Erik Ten Hag, Rashford unexpectedly declined sharply before being removed from MU’s plans by Ruben Amorim.

With his recent criticisms of MU, Rashford has almost confirmed he will never wear the Red Devils jersey again. Moreover, these statements could be used by Barcelona as leverage to lower MU’s asking price during negotiations.

Rashford’s loan deal to Barcelona ends at the close of the 2025/26 season. The Catalan giants have the option to buy him permanently for £26 million. However, due to financial difficulties, the club remains hesitant.

Some Spanish sources indicate that Barcelona might not activate the purchase option. Instead, they may exploit the strained relationship between Rashford and MU to pressure the Red Devils into selling him for less or extending the loan.

This is the worst-case scenario MU wants to avoid. However, given the current situation, the Red Devils are at a complete disadvantage. They are passive and hold no leverage in any talks, if any occur.

Since moving to Barcelona, Rashford has made a significant impact at the Nou Camp under coach Hansi Flick, contributing 7 goals and 11 assists across all competitions for Barca.