Rio Ferdinand says Man Utd selling star for £26m would be an ‘absolute robbery’ | Football

Rio Ferdinand is pleased to see Marcus Rashford back in form again and claims Barcelona would be ‘robbing’ Manchester United if they go on and sign the forward for £26million.

Rashford joined Barca on a season-long loan last summer having effectively been frozen out of United’s first-team following a public falling out with Ruben Amorim.

The 28-year-old had once been United’s shining light and a poster boy for the academy, but his return in front of goal dropped off a cliff at the start of the 2023/24 campaign – and he made it clear he wanted to leave his boyhood team after returning from a separate loan spell with Aston Villa.

Though not a guaranteed starter at the Camp Nou, Rashford appears to be enjoying his football again in Spain, with the England international racking up 11 goals and 13 assists in all competitions.

His latest goal – a crucial equaliser in a 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid at the weekend – was arguably his standout moment yet for the runaway La Liga leaders and Hansi Flick was full of praise after the final whistle.

‘I’m very happy with Marcus,’ the Barca head coach told reporters.

‘He has shown his quality and he scored an important goal.’

However, Flick was unable to provide any clarity regarding Barca’s plans for Rashford beyond the season, when the player’s current loan contract expires.

‘I can’t say anything about his future, the German added.

‘We have to focus on the matches until the end of the season.’

Barca have reportedly seen enough from Rashford and are ready to ask United for an extension on the attacker’s loan.

The Catalan giants also have the option to sign Rashford outright for a fee of £26m in the summer transfer window.

According to Manchester Evening News, recent reports in Spain suggesting this option had expired were ‘wide of the mark’.

‘If Barcelona get him for the reported £26m that we’re talking about and they get that version of Marcus Rashford, that is an absolute robbery, it’s a steal,’ ex-United defender Ferdinand said on his Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel.

‘I just say good luck to him, I want him to do well, because I’ve seen him grow as a young player at United and good luck to him in that sense.’

Though Ferdinand would have an in-form Rashford back at United in a heartbeat, he’s confident the ‘ship has sailed’ on the forward’s Old Trafford career.

Asked if he would like to see a fit and firing Rashford in United colours again, Ferdinand replied: ‘Absolutely! If Marcus Rashford is playing like that… that goal there is Marcus Rashford. That isn’t a surprise.

‘We’re not sitting here going, “Oh my God, did you see what Marcus Rashford did the other day? Never knew he could do that!”… no no, that’s what we expect, that’s what Marcus Rashford has made us feel is the norm with him because he’s that good.

‘Potentially he’s that good, it’s just that we haven’t seen it for a while at Manchester United and there’s obviously reasons behind that.

‘But let’s forget that now, that page is turned. He’s now at Barcelona, ten goals, ten assists this season, what a loan signing he has been for Barcelona if you look at it like that.

‘Would you have that Marcus Rashford back [at Manchester United]? 100 per cent, but I think that ship has sailed.’

Based on what he has seen in recent weeks, Ferdinand believes Rashford will now have his heart set on staying put in Barcelona for at least another season.

‘I think Marcus Rashford is looking forward, I think deep down he’ll want to go to Barcelona and I just hope that actually materialises for him,’ the six-time Premier League winner continued.

‘Is he playing consistently like the Rashford that we knew before? I’d argue probably not. But we’re seeing more glimpses of it that would be making me go, “I’d bet on that”, and if I was Barcelona then I’d take him.’

Rashford is yet to provide any assurances either way when it comes to his future, with two years remaining on his current contract at United.

But the United academy product has made no secret of the fact he is enjoying his experience in Catalonia, which he feels has proven a ‘fantastic environment’ for his ‘football journey’.

‘Of course this is what I want, but it’s not the reason why I’m pushing and working hard,’ Rashford said in a recent interview with Spanish publication Sport.

‘The reason why is because I want to win. Barcelona is a fantastic club. A club that is known for winning, and it’s this type of pressure – I want to say pressure but it’s not a bad type of pressure.

‘It’s a pressure that you look forward to and a pressure that I want to have whilst I’m playing football. If I’m at a club that doesn’t demand these things then it’s more difficult for me to be motivated. It’s a fantastic environment for me to continue my football journey.’

Asked whether he felt settled in the city, Rashford said: ‘From the minute that I arrived I felt welcome. For me, the reason why I’m here is to help the team. I’m here to help them win trophies.

‘Last year they had a fantastic season but – like in life and in football – things move on quickly so we have to repeat the season that we had last season.

‘I’m fully focused on this and the staff, the players know that I’m focused on this so it’s really good.’

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