"If Rashford can forget what happened at Manchester United, both good and bad, he has a great opportunity to reboot his career," Shearer told the English media on 26/7. "For Rashford, there's nothing bigger than Barcelona right now. The club believes in him, is paying his full salary, and might sign him permanently next summer. This is a fantastic chance for Rashford to rediscover his form."

Rashford's Barcelona debut on 23/7. Photo: FC Barcelona

Rashford's Barcelona debut on 23/7. Photo: FC Barcelona

Rashford rose through Manchester United's academy and debuted for the first team in 2015. The 27-year-old forward scored 138 goals in 426 appearances for the Red Devils. His peak performance came during the 2022-2023 season under manager Erik Ten Hag, when he netted 30 goals in 56 matches. However, he gradually lost his place and left Manchester United in 12/2024 due to a conflict with manager Ruben Amorim.

According to The Athletic, Rashford's agent met with Barcelona's management in early 2025 to discuss a contract. However, the deal fell through due to Barcelona's already inflated wage bill. Consequently, Rashford joined Aston Villa on loan for the latter half of the 2024-2025 season.

Upon returning to Old Trafford this summer, the 27-year-old openly expressed his desire to move to Barcelona and play alongside Yamal. According to Sportmail, Rashford had been texting Yamal and several other Barcelona players for months. Barcelona's locker room was also aware of the English forward's eagerness to join the team.

Rashford finally got his wish this week, joining Barcelona on a one-year loan with a $35 million purchase option for the summer of 2026.

By covering his full $410,000 weekly wage, Shearer believes Barcelona has shown strong faith in Rashford's quality and potential. However, he emphasized that Rashford can only return to his peak form if he addresses his mental state.

"This could be a wise move, but it could also be a gamble as Rashford hasn't been at his best for quite some time," Shearer noted. "Only Rashford knows where he stands mentally and physically. Only he can answer whether he'll return to the national team."

Rashford and Yamal during a Barcelona training session.

Rashford is expected to provide manager Hansi Flick with another quality attacking option alongside Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Ferran Torres. The Englishman is highly regarded for his versatility, capable of playing all three positions across the front line.

However, Brazilian football legend and former Barcelona striker Rivaldo warned that securing a starting spot at Barcelona won't be easy for Rashford. "Initially, it's normal for Rashford to be on the bench. He needs time to adapt, understand the manager's tactics, and integrate into the team," he said.

Despite this, Rivaldo still considers this an excellent signing and believes Rashford has the potential to thrive under Flick. The 2002 World Cup winner also expects Rashford to eventually earn a place in the starting lineup if he proves himself over time.

Rashford travels with Barcelona to Japan for a pre-season tour on 25/7. Photo: FC Barcelona

Rashford travels with Barcelona to Japan for a pre-season tour on 25/7. Photo: FC Barcelona

On 25/7, Rashford and his new teammates flew to Japan to prepare for a friendly match against Vissel Kobe at 5 PM on 27/7, Hanoi time. Flick's team will then continue their pre-season tour in South Korea, facing FC Seoul on 31/7 and Daegu FC on 4/8.

Hong Duy (according to Daily Mail)