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'Martin's excruciating Rangers era finally at a chaotic conclusion'
That was Hansi Flick's assessment of Marcus Rashford in September, just before the forward's return to England for his inaugural Champions League match with Barcelona.
The head coach's faith appeared to motivate Rashford. He netted his initial two goals for the Catalan club and propelled them to a 2-1 win over Newcastle at St James' Park.
This marked the breakthrough Rashford had been anticipating since joining Barcelona in July— a loan from Manchester United that sparked various questions.
What position would he hold at Barcelona? Would he gain Flick's confidence? Would Barcelona consider making his move permanent?
As the season momentarily halted for its second international break, Rashford had participated in 10 matches for Barcelona, and the early signs are encouraging.
Beyond the statistics, Rashford is winning over the supporters of Barcelona.
Some fans believe it's premature to evaluate his performance, while others have termed him a "pleasant surprise."
"You can see that gradually, he is gaining more confidence," remarked Alejandro, a long-time supporter. "He's providing us with a lot of joy. We observe his determination to succeed, so, for now, all the fans and the entire team back him."
Another supporter, Pablo, expressed his belief that Rashford can "surpass the expectations that many fans had for him."
Underwhelming initial outings
When Rashford made his La Liga debut as a substitute on 16 August, during a 3-0 victory away against Mallorca, hopes were modest.
He joined Barcelona after losing his place at United, entering essentially as the third-choice option for the attacking position his club sought to enhance.
The team was looking for a forward who could assist Raphinha on the left and provide depth to their offense.
Interest in the 27-year-old grew after unsuccessful attempts to secure their other targets, Nico Williams from Athletic Club and Luis Diaz, who was still with Liverpool at the time.
Rashford's league debut was forgettable, and his following two appearances in the Spanish league were also lackluster, with the forward playing no more than 45 minutes in each game.
At that time, Spanish media characterized Rashford as 'a fuego lento', or a 'slow-burner', suggesting that his best displays came in pre-season against weaker opponents without competitive pressure.
However, his goal for England during their 5-0 triumph over Serbia in the World Cup qualifiers in early September triggered a series of more significant performances.
Rashford's influence grows
Injuries to Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski have provided Rashford with an opportunity for a revival, allowing him an extended stint in Flick's starting lineup, where his impact on Barcelona's attacking style has increasingly become apparent.
He has been a starter in six of the last seven matches across all competitions. The only exception, against Getafe, was due to his late arrival to the team’s morning meeting, although he participated for the entire second half.
Sources from Barcelona indicated that Rashford arrived two minutes late, which led Flick to apply his firm rule of excluding players from the starting lineup if they delay attendance to training or team gatherings.
This marked the only game in the last seven for Barcelona in which Rashford did not play a direct role in a goal, whether by scoring or providing an assist.
His development has garnered praise. It began with his first assist against Valencia, followed by two goals in the Champions League match at Newcastle, and continued with assists against Oviedo, Real Sociedad in La Liga, and Paris St-Germain in the Champions League.
In his last game before the second international break, Rashford netted his inaugural La Liga goal, though it was merely a consolation in Barcelona's 4-1 defeat to Sevilla.
Two of his assists originated from corner kicks—an area where Barcelona had previously struggled to impose a threat. His contributions have been recognized in the Spanish media. As one article observed: “With his accurate crosses, Barca has discovered a new asset in set-piece situations.”
Flick specifically commended Rashford's exceptional performance in the Champions League against Newcastle.
“He's an excellent player, an extraordinary talent with remarkable finishing skills,” remarked the former Bayern Munich and Germany manager.
“For a forward, scoring goals is vital and I’m genuinely pleased for him. At the beginning of the season, [sporting director] Deco and I mentioned that we required a player like him.”
Will Rashford make a permanent signing?
Rashford joined Barcelona with the aim of establishing a significant impact and starting a positive chapter in his fluctuating career.
The club has the option to acquire him permanently for £30.3m (35m euros) in 2026, but as Deco conveyed to Spanish media, that matter will be addressed later.
“It’s premature to discuss decisions for the next season, but what’s essential is that we are satisfied with him,” the director of football stated.
This sentiment was echoed by another club source, who noted: “Everyone is pleased and excited about him and his performance, including Deco, Flick, and his teammates. Marcus is also feeling good about us, his teammates, and the city of Barcelona.
“It’s clear that if he progresses like this, there’s a strong possibility of that happening. However, we are still at the season’s beginning, so it’s too early to converse about this.”
Barcelona has important matches ahead before the next round of international fixtures, such as a derby against Girona, Champions League clashes with Olympiacos and Club Brugge, and the Clasico against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Following successive losses to Paris St-Germain and Sevilla, and with Raphinha returning from an injury, Spanish media suggest that Flick may implement some tactical adjustments.
For Rashford, this presents a chance to adapt and showcase his flexibility as he continues to seek a steady starting position.
He desired this transfer back in January, but had to hold off until summer. Even before he had touched the ball, he was quick to express that Barcelona "feels like home". It is now his responsibility to ensure that this feeling continues.
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