Barcelona’s Rashford plan criticised as ex-Man United star banished by club
Barcelona have yet to confirm whether they will be taking up an option to sign Marcus Rashford permanently this summer
Marcus Rashford’s future will be decided in the coming months(Image: SCOTT HEPPELL, AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester United won’t resume their Premier League campaign for the best part of a fortnight and, in the meantime, matters away from the pitch continue to take centre stage. The summer transfer window is fast approaching and the futures of several stars – particularly Marcus Rashford – remain the subject of constant speculation.
Rashford is among a handful of senior players to have been sent out on loan by United this season, alongside Rasmus Hojlund and Jadon Sancho. The arrival of Michael Carrick in the dugout might not bring about a change of plans for three men allowed to leave temporarily by his predecessor Ruben Amorim but that hasn’t stopped speculation over what’s next for Rashford.
Barcelona are believed to have a reasonably priced option to secure the England international on a permanent basis, though mixed signals have emerged regarding the Catalan outfit’s intentions. Hansi Flick’s side have been linked with another La Liga star in recent days but the situation may not be as straightforward as initially suggested.
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Meanwhile, one of Rashford’s former United teammates, Anthony Martial, has found himself making the wrong sort of headlines. Here are our latest updates from around Old Trafford.
Barca’s Munoz interest under scrutiny
Barcelona are allegedly using interest in Victor Munoz as leverage to negotiate a better deal in their pursuit of Marcus Rashford, according to reports emerging from Spain. The La Liga frontrunners can acquire Rashford for approximately £26million this summer.
Munoz, who represents Osasuna, found the net on his senior Spain debut on Friday and has been the subject of reported Barca interest. However, Real Madrid retain 50 percent of his rights and this appears likely to block any chances of a Camp Nou switch.
According to Diario de Noticias, a newspaper covering Osasuna’s home region of Navarre, the Pamplona club’s board believe Barcelona’s interest to be a ‘smokescreen’ designed to apply pressure on Rashford’s representatives. “By leaking a supposed interest in Osasuna’s star player, Barcelona is trying to send a message to Rashford’s camp that “we have alternatives,” using Víctor’s excellent performance as a mere bargaining chip to lower the cost of other deals,” the publication reports.
Martial in hot water at Monterrey
Former Manchester United forward Anthony Martial has been instructed to stay away from training for the rest of the week by current employers Monterrey. According to TUDN, this is a consequence of the Frenchman’s behaviour after he was left on the substitutes’ bench for his side’s most recent fixture.
Martial relocated to Mexico in September following a stint in Greece with AEK Athens. He required 12 league matches to register his first goal for Monterrey, which came in a 5-1 victory at Mazatlan in January, and openly displayed his frustrations in the recent 3-2 loss to Chivas when interim boss Nicolas Sanchez turned to youngster Joaquin Moxica – and not Martial – when looking for a way back into the game.
Sanchez has reportedly banished the 30 year old as punishment for his conduct. Monterrey sit ninth after 12 fixtures of Mexico’s clausura season and have already been knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, with manager Domenec Torrent losing his job in early March.
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