Marcus Rashford Nears Barcelona Transfer Amid Man United Contract Dispute

Marcus Rashford, currently 27, is seeking a transfer away from Manchester United following a loan spell at Aston Villa that revived his career prospects. Despite his desire to join Barcelona, the Spanish club is hesitant to meet United's £40 million asking price due to financial constraints, and manager Hansi Flick reportedly favors signing veteran winger Ivan Perišić instead. Rashford has shown willingness to accept a pay cut to facilitate a move, and other clubs such as Tottenham, Newcastle, AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Saudi Pro League teams have expressed interest. Aston Villa, unable to afford Rashford after missing Champions League qualification, remain open to a permanent deal but face competition. There is also potential for Rashford to leverage a forthcoming FIFA transfer rule allowing players to buy out their contracts, though this would be costly and is not expected to be implemented this summer. Meanwhile, Rashford is training in Marbella, awaiting Barcelona's decision while expressing strong commitment to joining the Catalan club.