The injury to Raphinha last month was seen as an opportunity for Marcus Rashford to secure his future at FC Barcelona.
The on-loan forward had performed fairly well this season, despite having bouts of inconsistency, so much so that the Catalans were seriously considering the prospect of signing him permanently from Manchester United.
However, that outlook has changed in recent weeks, with Barça no longer certain about keeping him at the club after this season.
In fact, as highlighted by SPORT, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick sent a clear message to Rashford about where he stands in the team’s plans after opting to leave him on the bench against Celta Vigo.
The Man United loanee has seen his role diminish during the decisive phase of the season and received a clear signal in last night’s match.
Flick opted instead to deploy Gavi on the left wing and later used Fermin Lopez in that role.
Rashford was given minutes as a No.9, but it is increasingly evident that his time at Barcelona is coming to an end following a loan spell in which he has performed reasonably, but not enough to secure a long-term future.
Rashford did not start vs Celta Vigo. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
At the start of the year, Barcelona had planned to make an effort to sign Rashford permanently. The idea was to activate the €30 million purchase option and adjust his salary to keep him for the next three seasons.
However, the situation changed significantly from February onwards. Both the coaching staff and the sporting department are now unwilling to commit a significant portion of the wage bill to a player who has not established himself as a regular starter.
The overall cost of the deal, including transfer fee and wages, is considered too high.
Rashford’s season has been inconsistent, although his initial adaptation was positive. Within the club, there is a belief that he has the level required to play for Barcelona and could have been a valuable asset at a more reasonable cost.
That scenario has now shifted, and the decision is almost final: he will not remain at the club. Barcelona have already turned their attention to the market in search of a younger and more affordable left winger.