Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is set to reject a permanent transfer to Aston Villa, opting instead to pursue a move to Barcelona, which he considers his “dream club.” Despite Aston Villa holding a £40 million option to sign Rashford permanently after his loan spell, the 27-year-old is unwilling to stay and is prepared to take a significant pay cut to join the La Liga giants.
Rashford joined Villa on loan in January 2025 after falling out of favour under Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim. He has made a strong impact at Villa, scoring four goals and providing five assists in 17 appearances. However, he is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury and may miss the remainder of the Premier League season.
Barcelona, Rashford’s preferred destination, face financial constraints due to La Liga’s financial fair play regulations, which complicates their ability to meet Manchester United’s asking price and Rashford’s current wages of around £350,000 per week. Nonetheless, Rashford is willing to accept a reduced salary to facilitate the move. Manchester United are also keen to sell Rashford as part of a broader squad overhaul under Amorim, who has no plans to reintegrate him into the team.
Villa’s option to buy Rashford for £40 million may not be exercised, as the forward prioritizes playing Champions League football regularly, which Barcelona can offer, unlike Villa. Barcelona’s financial challenges include scrutiny over a €100 million sale of VIP boxes at Camp Nou, which they claimed would help meet fair play criteria, though the league is questioning the deal.
In summary, Rashford is closing the chapter on his Manchester United career, rejecting Aston Villa’s permanent offer, and aiming for a challenging and prestigious move to Barcelona, even if it means a pay cut and navigating financial hurdles.