Rashford has played in all three opening La Liga matches but has yet to make an impact, totaling just 95 minutes on the pitch. The English forward came off the bench in the 3-0 win against Mallorca and the 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano.

In the match against Levante on 30/8, Rashford started but was substituted at halftime with Barca trailing 0-2. Without Rashford on the field, Barca scored three second-half goals to complete a dramatic comeback.

Marcus Rashford (left) on the ball during Barca's 3-2 victory over Levante in the second round of La Liga at the Ciutat de Valencia Stadium, Spain, on 23/8/2025. Photo: Alamy

According to Spanish newspaper El Nacional, Barca's management is unimpressed with Rashford's slow start, considering the 27-year-old forward "timid, inaccurate, and lost" on the field.

Therefore, they may consider terminating Rashford's loan agreement early. The deal, signed at the end of July, includes a buyout clause worth approximately 37.5 million USD in the summer of 2026. If canceled prematurely, Barca would have to pay the Premier League club a fee of around 5.4 million USD.

This scenario, if it occurs, would be similar to Chelsea's payment of a 7 million USD penalty when they declined to buy Jadon Sancho outright as per the terms of their loan agreement with Man Utd.

Spanish media previously revealed that President Joan Laporta and Sporting Director Deco were never fully convinced about signing Rashford, as their primary targets were Nico Williams and Luis Diaz. However, Williams opted to sign a 10-year extension with Bilbao, while Diaz joined Bayern Munich for 88 million USD.

Coach Hansi Flick was the one who persistently persuaded Barca to sign Rashford. "He gives us more options. I believe we will see an excellent Rashford this season," the German coach stated after the opening La Liga match.

Barca's next match is against Valencia in the fourth round of La Liga on 14/9. Four days later, Rashford and his teammates will travel to Newcastle for their opening Champions League match of the 2025-2026 season.

Compiled by Hong Duy