Barcelona pushing to complete signing of Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford as Will Ferrell watches draw with Leeds
Barcelona are pushing to complete the signing of Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, the PA news agency understands.
The 27-year-old has not played for his boyhood club since being hauled off in a Europa League match away to Viktoria Plzen on December 12 and ended the season on loan at Aston Villa.
Rashford has trained away from Ruben Amorim’s first-team since pre-season began and appears to be edging closer to a dream switch to Barcelona.
PA understands talks are progressing on a deal to take the United outcast to the LaLiga outfit, with a season-long loan including an option to buy being worked on.
Rashford is among five players to have informed United they wish to explore a future away from Old Trafford, where he came through the academy and scored 138 goals in 426 first-team appearances.
The England international admitted he was “ready for a new challenge” in December and last month revealed he would like to play alongside Barcelona’s teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal.
Barcelona sporting director Deco in May told Catalan radio station RAC1 that the club “like” Rashford, who does not have a squad number having lost the 10 shirt to Matheus Cunha.
The Brazil international and left-back Diego Leon have arrived at United this summer, with forward Bryan Mbeumo set to join them at Old Trafford.
The Cameroon international is in the process of completing his move after United finally struck a deal with Brentford worth £65million plus up to £6million in add-ons.
Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United and promoted Leeds kicked off pre-season preparations with a 0-0 friendly draw in Stockholm.
The Premier League sides played their first fixture ahead of the new campaign in front of a 45,345 crowd at the Strawberry Arena, where the Red Devils won the Europa League in 2017.
Summer arrivals Cunha and Leon made their first appearances for Amorim’s men, who edged a forgetful first half in which Chido Obi struck wide when Cunha was well placed.
Casemiro saw a cross deflected by Ethan Ampadu onto the crossbar in stoppage time, with both teams making sweeping changes at the break in Sweden.
Leeds – cheered on by minority owner Will Ferrell – were more of a threat in the second period, when Tom Heaton denied Jayden Bogle and frustrated Man Utd academy graduate Largie Ramazani.
Patrick Dorgu saw a snapshot saved by Illan Meslier, with Daniel Farke’s side surviving a late melee as Kobbie Mainoo hit the crossbar before Ayden Heaven was stopped.