Barcelona manager Hansi Flick admits he will ‘miss’ Marcus Rashford after his impressive spell on loan with the LaLiga title winners – all but confirming that he won’t rejoin.
Rashford scored 14 goals and provided as many assists on loan from Manchester United and indicated that he wanted to extend his stay in Spain’s second city.
But Barca have since signed wingers Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi for a combined £106.5million, so it looks highly unlikely that they will activate Rashford’s £26m optional purchase clause.
It leaves Rashford facing a return to Old Trafford, a place he previously admitted he was ready to leave, though it would be under new manager Michael Carrick.
Flick said: ‘What I can say about Marcus is I appreciate a lot to work with him.
‘Sometimes it’s not always that you do know what happens with the players who are on loan.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has said he will ‘miss’ Marcus Rashford – all but confirming that he won’t rejoin them
Flick said that Rashford is a ‘fantastic player and a fantastic person’ after their LaLiga title win
‘I think our situation is not easy for that, but I appreciate a lot working with him as he’s a fantastic player and fantastic person.
‘I think also the team miss him and I will miss him, but that’s life. This is what we have to accept.’
Barcelona’s financial restrictions have eased somewhat after half a decade of efforts to alleviate them but their hands are still tied to some extent.
They are yet to garner much money from player sales this window and still need to replace Robert Lewandowski, who has joined Chicago Fire on a free.
Rashford should have his fair share of suitors after an encouraging season which saw him break into England’s World Cup squad.
The 28-year-old scored in England’s opening match against Croatia, a 4-2 win, but did not set the tournament on fire from there.
He has two years remaining on his contract with boyhood club United.
Rashford said in May: ‘I’m not a magician but if I was, I would stay.
‘It’s really good. I came here to win. I want to win as many things as I can.
‘This team is a wonderful team. They’re going to win so much in the future as well. To be a part of that would be special.’
