Why Marcus Rashford will 'thrive' after joining Barcelona on loan from Manchester United - 'Going to score goals'
Published 08/08/2025 at 12:00 GMT+1
TNT Sports expert Owen Hargreaves explained why he believes Marcus Rashford can kick-start his career after joining Barcelona. The forward will spend the 2025/26 season on loan at the Spanish giants. The move comes after an unsettling couple of years at Manchester United, where he found himself in and out of the team. But Hargreaves believes Barcelona can reinvigorate Rashford.
What is the key reason why Rashford can 'thrive' at Barcelona?
Video credit: TNT Sports
Barcelona will provide Marcus Rashford with the perfect environment to rediscover his best form, believes ex-Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves.
Rashford has moved to Spain on a season-long loan deal from Manchester United.
It comes after a turbulent couple of years at Old Trafford, during which time he was loaned out to Aston Villa for the second half of last term.
The 27-year-old netted four goals in his 17 appearances for Unai Emery's side.
Hargreaves believes he will be more productive for the 2024/25 La Liga champions though, in large part due to Barcelona's head coach.
"I think he'll do great," Hargreaves told TNT Sports. "He's got one of the best managers in the world in Hansi Flick.
"He plays super attacking football. He's got an amazing intelligence as a manager. He understands the games, [his] players are very close to him.
"I've spoken to players about him; they say that he’s the best manager they've ever had, not [just] in terms of tactics, in terms of scoring goals and playing that high line, but also just the way he talks to his players, the confidence he gives them.
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Rashford reveals favourite position as he praises Flick – ‘He can make me play good football’
Video credit: SNTV
"Marcus, talent-wise, is very unique, but obviously his confidence has been hit, so to go there and play under a manager that trusts you, he really wanted him."
A transfer to Barcelona could also enhance Rashford's hopes of breaking back into the England team.
The forward was left out of the latest Three Lions squad by new boss Thomas Tuchel for the matches against Andorra and Senegal in June, and has featured in just two of his country's last 20 matches, scoring last against Italy in October 2023.
Rashford will hope he can turn that tide, especially with a World Cup on the horizon next summer.
For Manchester United, Rashford's 48 Premier League appearances since the start of the 2023/24 campaign have yielded only 11 goals.
However, Hargreaves believes an arm around his shoulder, plus the standard of Barcelona's forwards, will help bring the best out of the 27-year-old.
"Obviously Raphinha is going to play on the left," he continued. "Yamal is going to play on the right and probably Lewandowski through the middle, but Marcus can dispel [cover] any of those guys in all those positions.
"So I think it's going to be a great opportunity for him to go into a place where the culture's going to be really good, which he hasn't had at Manchester United, and I think he's going to thrive.
"You think, he's going to play in behind Pedri and [Frenkie] De Jong and all these superstars; he's going to score goals, Marcus, that's for sure."
Rashford could make his La Liga bow for Barca on August 16, when Flick's side face Mallorca in their first competitive match of the new season.
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