Barcelona consider Benfica star as Marcus Rashford alternative

With only a few months left of the season, the future of Marcus Rashford is still uncertain.

For the 2025/26 campaign, the Manchester United attacker has been on loan with Barcelona, absolutely thriving with the Spanish side.

Looking revitalised with the La Liga champions, scoring ten goals and grabbing 13 assists in 39 games, Hansi Flick has been impressed by his new addition.

Already, Barca are set to have a bargain deal lined up with his permanent fee already agreed at £26 million in an optional buy clause.

This fee dropped from the £40 million agreed with Aston Villa for his loan with them last winter, and with his improvements since, it looks like a steal.

However, his wages are still causing an issue for Barcelona to go ahead with the move, as he was paid a massive £325,000 per week at Old Trafford.

Now, it’s understood that the Catalan side are looking at potential alternative options to signing Marcus Rashford in case finances don’t allow the move.

Portuguese outlet Record has reported that Barcelona are now looking at Benfica’s Andreas Schjelderup.

The Eagles are understood to be open to selling him this summer despite the left-winger being contracted until 2028, seemingly putting no pressure on a move.

However, the interesting point is that Benfica are willing to ignore his release clause of £87 million, and look at offers of £17.5 million.

Across 36 games this season, the Norway international has scored seven goals and registered four assists in 36 games.

Whilst this isn’t anywhere near Rashford’s contributions, his age, being seven years younger than Rashford at only 21 years old, is a major factor in the interest.

This puts him in the same profile as Abde Ezzalzouli and Jan Virgili of Real Betis and Mallorca, who Barca are also understood to be watching.

All three are set to cost around the same as the agreed fee for Marcus Rashford, however their wage demands are likely to be only a fraction of his.

As such, where we once thought his move to Camp Nou was a sure-fire thing, there is now doubt and a real potential he could arrive back at Old Trafford.