Barcelona’s top brass believed Marcus Rashford could solve a short-term problem in attack. Sporting director Deco championed the idea, and head coach Hansi Flick gave his blessing. Yet the deal fell apart, and insiders say the real opposition came from within the Camp Nou dressing room.
Several Barcelona mainstays, including Pedri, Gavi, and Ronald Araujo, apparently questioned the financial wisdom of pursuing Rashford. They worried that a high-profile addition for only a few months would drain funds earmarked for the existing squad’s wages and contract renewals.
“It was unwise to go for a player like Rashford, who would have been an expensive signing for only six months,” one club source told SPORT. That concern grew louder when Manchester United made it clear they wouldn’t cover any portion of Rashford’s salary demands. The deal might have advanced if Ansu Fati or Andreas Christensen had departed, but neither left.
Even so, the locker room held no personal grudge against the English forward. “Players expressed dissatisfaction regarding the pursuit of Rashford,” reads one line from SPORT, “but the dissatisfaction was about resource allocation, not the player himself.” In simpler terms, Barcelona’s veterans felt the club should first reward those who had committed their futures to the team.
Rivaldo, a former Barcelona star, went public with his own view last month. “I think he would have a place in this team because, in addition to being a great player, Barca has a schedule of many games ahead,” he said when asked about Rashford’s qualities. Rivaldo understood the logic behind adding another attacking option, but his words didn’t change the dressing room’s overall stance.
By late January, Rashford’s patience wore thin. When it was clear that Barcelona’s internal resistance was too strong, he pivoted to Aston Villa and agreed to a loan deal with an option to buy for about $50 million. The forward left Old Trafford hoping to rediscover his form under Unai Emery and prove that the fuss around his name was justified.
Player priorities over fresh faces
Barcelona’s players felt an expensive pursuit risked overshadowing their own contract negotiations. After finally securing key renewals for Pedri, Gavi, and Araujo, the club set aside its chase for a new forward. The players’ position was simple: focus on what you already have and care for those leading the team this far. Not to mention, the Blaugrana also have La Liga’s leading goalscorer, Robert Lewandowski.
Although Rashford never wore the Blaugrana shirt, his near-move to Catalonia revealed a growing dynamic at Barcelona. The players themselves can still shape the roster, especially when they believe the club’s future depends on prioritizing loyalty and cohesion over last-minute signings.
