Catalan club can make the forward’s loan deal permanent for €30m but they are yet to make a decision
Frenkie de Jong has backed Marcus Rashford to remain at Barcelona beyond his season-long loan from Manchester United, saying the forward has already done enough to justify a permanent move.
Rashford has produced 14 goals and 14 assists in 48 appearances in all competitions since joining Barcelona in July.
The Spanish champions hold an option to sign him permanently for €30m. The player is still under contract at United until 2028 but the club are ready to sell, but only if Barcelona pay the expected sum.
De Jong said Rashford had made an immediate impact on Hansi Flick’s side and would strengthen the squad further if he stayed beyond the summer.
“Yes, I believe so,” De Jong told Diario Sport when asked if Rashford should remain at the Camp Nou. “In the minutes he’s played, he has given us a lot: goals, assists, depth.
“He is a fast player, who threatens rival defences. I would be delighted if he continued with us.”
Rashford scored the opening goal in Barcelona’s 2-0 clásico win that helped secure the La Liga title. He has expressed a desire to remain in Spain beyond his loan spell, having struggled for consistent opportunities at Manchester United under Ruben Amorim and spending the second half of the 2024-25 season on loan at Aston Villa.
“He arrived here with a lot of enthusiasm,” De Jong said. “He was very happy to be here and from the first moment he arrived you could already see that he wanted to stay. He’s tried to adapt as best he could and I’ve seen him do well.”
