Marcus Rashford could force Manchester United to miss €30 million for Barcelona future

Story byPhoto by Alex Caparros/Getty ImagesAaditya KrishnamurthyWed, January 14, 2026 at 8:30 AM UTC·2 min readMarcus Rashford’s Barcelona future leaves Manchester United facing a €30 million problem. Marcus Rashford’s desire to stay at Barcelona could leave Manchester United without a payout this summer. The 28-year-old has made it clear he wants to remain at Camp Nou, but Barcelona are reluctant to pay the full €30 million fee attached to his loan deal. Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty ImagesMarcus Rashford wants Barcelona move, but club pushing for lower feeAccording to Ben Jacobs of talkSPORT, Barcelona have opened talks with Manchester United over a permanent move for Marcus Rashford, but aren’t willing to activate the €30 million (£26m) clause. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementInstead, they’re hoping to negotiate a lower fee or another loan deal with a conditional obligation to buy. Rashford has already made his intentions clear, signaling that he wants to stay with Barcelona. His stance gives Barcelona leverage in negotiations, as Rashford is open to staying regardless of the terms. United, meanwhile, risk missing out on a sale if they refuse to budge on their asking price. Barcelona’s cautious approach fits their wider financial strategy, which prioritises structured deals and reduced risk. Barcelona’s financial approach could test Manchester United’s resolveThe club reportedly views Marcus Rashford as a proven fit within Hansi Flick’s system and prefers to extend the arrangement without committing to a large upfront payment. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRashford’s impact has been clear since joining Barcelona, scoring seven goals and providing 11 assists in 27 appearances. He also lifted his first trophy with the club in the Supercopa de España final against Real Madrid — strengthening his case to stay. For now, Barcelona hold the stronger position.