Barcelona and Manchester United have begun talks over a permanent transfer for Rashford, with an offer of €22 million payable in installments! Rashford pressures, leaving Sir Jim reluctantly resigned.

Rashford secured his first championship with Barcelona, and with Manchester United’s former manager Ruben Amorim gone, the 28-year-old English winger has twice the reason to pop the champagne. Still, despite joining United’s youth system at seven, Rashford does not wish to go back to Old Trafford. At his Barcelona presentation, he stated explicitly: "I have achieved what people dreamed of."

Although Rashford had a slow start at Barcelona and experienced some ups and downs, scoring 7 goals and providing 11 assists in 27 matches clearly reflects his strong performance. Especially compared to the nightmare of his last seasons at Manchester United, his time at Barcelona feels more like a dream come true.

Initially, Rashford stayed at the five-star Gran Meliá Torre Melina hotel, where the presidential suite costs up to £3,233 per night. However, he soon moved to an apartment in the Esplugues de Llobregat area, actively learning Spanish and restarting his charitable work, signaling his intention to settle in Barcelona for the long term.

This affluent neighborhood was once home to Barcelona stars like Piqué and Iniesta. One of Rashford’s neighbors is his key teammate Yamal, who lives in Piqué’s former residence. After returning to Barcelona from Manchester United, Piqué lived there with his wife Shakira, though they have since divorced.

Rashford lives there with his dog "Saint," enjoying a comfortable environment where he can pursue new hobbies outside training, such as paddle tennis and fishing, and savor local Mediterranean delicacies like Spanish ham and fresh seafood. "My favorite is Spanish paella," he told the BBC.

Interestingly, his girlfriend Lucia Loi also lives with Rashford; they have been engaged and broken up twice. However, she appeared at his Barcelona unveiling, suggesting their romance may have rekindled. Last December, they attended a basketball game with Barcelona player Runi Bargi. On his 28th birthday social media post, Rashford wrote: "Chapter twenty-eight, rebirth."

Rashford has come a long way and feels reborn in his professional career; he is unlikely to want to return to Manchester United and start over. Therefore, he wants to stay at Barcelona and has received a positive response from the club. Moreover, Rashford is actively helping Barcelona pressure his former club Manchester United. Last summer, United excluded him from first-team training, labeling him one of the "five rats," and Rashford is clearly no longer holding back.

Barcelona has already held one round of negotiations with Manchester United regarding Rashford’s transfer. They want to keep the player but are unwilling to trigger the €30 million buyout clause. Reportedly, Barcelona has offered €22 million, with €18 million fixed and payable over three years, plus €4 million in performance bonuses based on appearances and goals. Manchester United is naturally dissatisfied, and no agreement has been reached yet. More talks are expected in the coming weeks as both sides intend to continue negotiations.

Transfer expert Ben Jacobs explained: "Barcelona met with Manchester United this month to explore a permanent transfer for Rashford. Barcelona prefers not to activate the €30 million buyout clause but to see if United would lower the price or agree to a one-year loan with a conditional buy option. Rashford wants to stay at Camp Nou, and Barcelona is eager to keep him. Further talks between the clubs are expected before the season ends to try to reach a deal."

After sacking Amorim, Manchester United gained more leverage and need not accept a reduced-price sale of Rashford; they could also keep him. However, the player’s heart is no longer with the Red Devils, and his £325,000 weekly wage is a significant burden. If Rashford insists on staying only at Barcelona, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Ineos group may ultimately have to reluctantly concede.