Barcelona are exploring alternative routes to keep Marcus Rashford beyond his current loan spell from Manchester United
What the situation is
Rashford joined Barcelona on a season-long loan from Manchester United.
There is an option to buy in the loan deal; reports cite a fee in the region of €30-35 million (or roughly £30 million) if Barcelona wish to make the move permanent.
However, Barcelona are reportedly not keen or are reluctant to trigger that clause at full price, given their financial constraints.
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Constraints / Challenges Barca face
These help explain why Barcelona are seeking alternative routes rather than simply paying the buy-option outright:
1. Financial Fair Play / LaLiga salary cap
Barcelona are under tight financial restrictions. LaLiga imposes salary/spending caps, and Barca’s registration capacity is limited unless they free up space or reduce wages.
The wage bill cap for 2025-26 for Barca got cut significantly (reports say from ~€463 million down to ~€351 million), making any large signings or permanent deals more difficult without offsetting outgoing salaries.
2. Rashford’s wage demands / contract
Rashford is a high-earner. Any permanent deal would presumably involve a significant salary, and Barca may need him to accept wage reductions to make a deal feasible. Reports suggest Rashford is willing to make sacrifices.
Also, his contract at Manchester United runs until 2028, which gives United negotiating power.
3. No immediate urgency / performance is still being evaluated
Barcelona apparently want to see how Rashford performs over the season (whether he settles, consistency, adaptability) before fully committing.
Also, some decision-makers (sporting director, etc.) have indicated they may wait until summer 2026 to discuss permanent move.
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Alternative routes Barcelona are reportedly exploring
Given the constraints, here are the possible strategies Barca might use to retain Rashford beyond his current loan without immediately triggering the full buy clause:
1. Negotiate a reduced purchase fee
Barca could try to renegotiate with Manchester United to lower the buy-option fee from whatever it is (~€30-35m or its equivalent) to something more affordable. This might involve sweeteners for United (e.g. sell-on clauses, performance bonuses).
2. Another loan extension / new loan deal
Instead of buying him outright now, Barca could negotiate to extend the loan for another season. Possibly with a loan fee, or United covering some of the wages. This allows Barca to defer the purchase decision, reduce immediate financial pressure, and see more of Rashford in their system.
3. Deferred payment or payment in instalments
Barca might try to structure the purchase so that payments are staggered over time (e.g. pay part now, rest later), or delay parts of the fee until their financial position improves. Sometimes clubs do this when facing FFP constraints. (There’s no firm evidence yet that this is current plan, but it’s one possible tool.)
4. Wage reduction / cost sharing
Persuading Rashford to accept lower wages or restructuring his contract could help. Also, United might agree to continue paying part of his salary in a permanent deal, or Barca might find ways to offload other players to savings can be rerouted.
5. Selling/departing players to free up salary / registration space
Barca will likely need to move other players out to be able to register new or expensive contracts. Names like Ansu Fati or Eric García have been mentioned in speculation. Their departures would help reduce the wage burden.
6. Use of image-rights or bonus payments to shift cost off balance sheet
In these kinds of deals, clubs sometimes shift part of compensation into bonuses, image rights, or other less immediate payments to reduce initial cap hit. This is more speculative in Rashford’s case, not confirmed in publicly sourced reports, but is a tactic clubs use under financial constraints.
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What is already being done / what is likely
Some of these routes are not just speculative; there are signs they are being actively pursued:
Barcelona have indicated they are delighted with Rashford’s start, and want to hold off on permanent deal discussions until summer. This implies they are evaluating carefully.
Reports from Firstpost say Barca are “looking for ways to keep Rashford … without activating the £26 million purchase option.”
Also, a write up mentioned Barca “have devised two plans to get United man on the cheap: lowering the transfer fee or opting for a new loan.”
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Risks / Downsides
While the routes above might help Barcelona, there are risks and trade‐offs:
United may refuse a lower fee / resist loan extensions if they believe Rashford’s value will rise with good performances. They may prefer to sell rather than prolong the loan or accept less.
Rashford’s performance consistency: If he doesn’t maintain form, his value could drop, but that also makes Barca look less keen or less justified in spending. On the flip side, if he excels, United might demand more or other clubs may show interest, driving up the cost.
Regulatory / Registration issues: Even with lower fees or loan extensions, Barca must comply with LaLiga’s registration rules, salary caps, etc. Unless they move out enough salary or offload players, they might be unable to register Rashford or satisfy the financial limits.
Opportunity costs: Holding off on a permanent signing may leave Barca open to losing him to other suitors, especially if Rashford prefers staying in Spain. Also waiting means uncertainty.
Wage structure and dressing room equity: If Rashford takes a wage cut or has different contract terms, there could be internal issues with other players or agents.
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What seems most plausible
Putting together what is known:
It seems likely Barcelona will not immediately trigger the buy option at full strength. The financial constraints and the signals from Barca suggest that.
A negotiated lower fee or installment-style payments are plausible if they want to make a permanent transfer.
Another loan extension is also a strong possibility, perhaps with revised terms.
What is known or strongly reported about United’s position
1. United still hold Rashford’s contract until 2028
Rashford remains under contract at United through 2028.
That gives United significant leverage: any permanent deal must be negotiated with them.
2. United reportedly do not intend to reintegrate Rashford
Multiple reports assert that United have “little intention of handing Rashford a surprise lifeline” and that there is “no way back” for him at Old Trafford.
The logic: his loan indicates United see him as surplus to their plans, or at least not in the primary plans under the current regime.
3. United would likely resist a significant discount or a second loan without conditions
Because they control the contract, United can push back on efforts by Barcelona to lower the purchase fee or extend the loan on favorable terms. (This is more implied than directly confirmed in press sources.)
Some reports suggest Barca are trying to negotiate down the ~€30 million buy option, or to do another loan, but that would depend heavily on United’s willingness to agree.
4. United would prefer to maximize value, especially with Rashford being a homegrown player
Given his tenure and profile, United would likely want to extract fair compensation or negotiate favorable terms (e.g. sell-on percentage, bonuses) rather than sell cheaply.
Some commentators suggest United might feel “shortchanged” by a low buy-option activation given Rashford’s profile and potential.
5. Rashford seems to have limited desire to return
According to reports, Rashford is not seriously entertaining a return to United; his focus is on staying at Barcelona.
That reduces the room for United to threaten “we keep him” as leverage, because the player may prefer the move to Barca even under less ideal financial terms.
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How United’s stance constrains or complicates Barcelona’s alternative strategies
Given United’s position, some of Barcelona’s more creative strategies may face pushback or negotiation.
Lowering the price: United may resist lowering the €30 m (or equivalent) clause. If they believe Rashford’s value will rise, they may not agree to a discount unless Barca offer compelling add-ons (bonuses, sell-on clauses).
Another loan: United may refuse to grant another loan extension, particularly if they believe there is a buyer willing to pay full price.
Deferred payment / instalments: United might accept this, especially if they believe Barcelona will be committed (and because it helps them with immediate cash flow). But they might push for guarantees or security (e.g. escrow, clauses triggered only if Barca fulfill conditions).
Cost sharing / wage subsidy: United may not prefer to continue subsidizing wages or giving concessions, especially for a player they’ve effectively moved on from.
Swap deals / player exchanges: Some sources mention the possibility of involving other players (e.g. Ter Stegen) as bargaining chips in deals between Barcelona and United.
Also, United’s negotiating position is somewhat weakened by their own actions—having allowed Rashford to go on loan—and by the fact that Rashford reportedly wants to stay in Barcelona. That may reduce their leverage somewhat.
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What seems the most likely outcome, based on the evidence
Putting together Barcelona’s ambitions, Rashford’s preference, and United’s motivations, here’s what seems plausible:
United will not unconditionally accept a very low fee; they will push for value.
Barca may get some concessions (e.g. payment in instalments, conditional bonuses) if United believe that’s the best they can get.
A second loan extension is possible—but only if United see it as beneficial (or if no buyer emerges).
The most realistic scenario might be a negotiated permanent deal at close to the buy-option, perhaps with add-ons, rather than a radical discount or a long-term loan.
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