Barcelona have until June 15 to activate a €30 million ($34.8m) clause which would allow them to make Marcus Rashford’s loan from Manchester United permanent, a source has told ESPN.
Rashford’s future is the source of internal debate at Barça, with the club’s hierarchy still weighing up whether to invest a significant part of this summer’s transfer budget in the England international.
However, they have time to make their decision, with a source confirming the option to sign Rashford remains active despite reports in Spain this week it had expired.
In addition, the source added that Barça have the possibility to make the payment in three instalments of €10m ($11.6m), the first this year and then two more in 2027 and 2028.
Rashford’s camp have been in contact with Barça during the international break to find out the club’s current thoughts on extending the forward’s loan.
Barça president Joan Laporta has expressed a desire to keep Rashford, who arrived at the request of coach Hansi Flick last summer, but suggested he would prefer to renegotiate a new price or extend the loan.
Sources at United, though, insist that the Premier League side have no intention of thrashing out a new deal with Barça, adding that Rashford will return to Old Trafford if the LaLiga leaders don’t activate the clause.
There is confidence at United that they would be able to transfer him elsewhere if necessary — potential for an even a higher price.
Barça’s decision will be strongly influenced by what happens in the next month, with Rashford set for more game time after Raphinha was ruled out for five weeks.
Flick’s side return to action in LaLiga on Saturday against Atlético Madrid and then face the same opposition over two legs in the Champions League quarterfinal, with a league game against local rivals Espanyol sandwiched in the middle of that tie.
Rashford has played just 30 minutes across Barça’s last four games, but played for England against Japan and Uruguay this week and is the leading candidate to replace Raphinha on the left wing.
He took the Brazil international’s place earlier the season when he was sidelined for a significant amount of time, delivering a series of impressive performances for the Blaugrana.
In total, he has made 39 appearances for Barça, scoring 10 goals and providing 13 assists.
Information from ESPN’s Rob Dawson was used in this report.
