Man Utd forward Marcus Rashford is closing in on a departure from Old Trafford, with Barcelona advancing in talks

Manchester United are close to agreeing a season-long loan deal for Marcus Rashford with Barcelona, which will include an option to sign the forward permanently next summer.

Barcelona will cover Rashford’s entire salary during his stay at the Camp Nou in 2025/2026.

Rashford has been looking for a new club this summer after Aston Villa opted against signing him permanently and the 27-year-old wanted to play in the Champions League again.

Rashford sought advice from the AC Talent agency, which boasts several Spanish clients, in the hope of brokering a move to the Catalan club. Barcelona have been heavily linked with Rashford this summer and an exit to La Liga will end his late-afternoon appearances to Carrington.

United delayed the return of Rashford to Carrington, along with four other players, this month and they have all trained away from the main group, arriving at Carrington late in the afternoon to avoid contact.

The relationship between Ruben Amorim and Rashford became frosty in mid-December when the academy graduate was dropped from the squad for the Manchester derby at the Etihad.

Rashford subsequently signed for Aston Villa on loan in the January window.

United recently stripped Rashford of the No.10 shirt and handed the number to Matheus Cunha, who signed from Wolves this summer for £62.5 million.

Rashford last played for United against Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on December 12.

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