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£49.6m Spaniard between Man Utd outcast and his Barcelona dream

Originally posted on We All Follow United
By Siddharth Juyal | Last updated Jun 19, 2025 10:38 AM ET

Manchester United outcast Marcus Rashford desperately wants a move to Barcelona, but they prefer Athletic Club star attacker Nico Williams. Ruben Amorim has established that Marcus Rashford is not part of his plans at United, making him a costly surplus.

The 27-year-old signed a lucrative contract in the summer of 2023 under Erik ten Hag after enjoying a prolific season. However, Rashford’s one season turned into an anomaly as he continued to struggle with inconsistencies that had hampered him persistently.

The Englishman earned promotion from the prestigious United academy and showcased incredible potential to raise the hopes of United fans. However, from a young age, Rashford struggled with a fluctuating form, showcasing his skills in glimpses rather than maintaining momentum.

In the last couple of seasons, Rashford’s contributions drastically dropped, and the managerial change last season changed everything for him. Amorim immediately loaned Rashford out to Aston Villa during the January transfer window, showing ruthlessness in implementing his long-term plans.

While Rashford enjoyed a successful loan spell, Amorim’s United struggled to adjust to his style of play throughout the season. The 27-year-old remains available for sale, but his wages and price tag are a major hurdle for any football club.

We previously covered that the wages and the price tag combined are too big for Barcelona to match this summer. According to Spanish outlet Marca, Barcelona have Williams from Athletic as their priority amid the well-known desire of Rashford to leave United for the Catalan giant.

Rashford is ready to take an immense wage cut to get the deal done, but United’s valuation of him persists. While United’s valuation for Rashford remains £40m, William’s release clause at Athletic is worth €58m (£49.6m), which is not far.

£72m Manchester United flop intends to stay amid Serie A interest

Whether Rashford would take such a wage cut if another club comes for him is up for speculation. Rest assured, United need to change their strategy when it comes to selling their surplus who are under astronomical wages.

This article first appeared on We All Follow United and was syndicated with permission.

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