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Marcus Rashford has placed his fate in Barcelona's hands, hoping the reigning back-to-back La Liga champions will sign the on-loan attacker permanently from Manchester United, with reports suggesting he is willing to accept an even steeper wage reduction than what was previously proposed.
Following a falling-out at Old Trafford just weeks after Ruben Amorim took charge, Rashford has been on loan at Barcelona this season. He quickly declared he felt "at home" in his new Catalan environment and has shown no desire to return to Manchester. On the contrary, his wish to remain a Barcelona player—even in a squad rotation role—is plain to see.
Barcelona hold an exclusive purchase option set at €30 million ($34.9 million, £26.2 million), but there has been significant hesitation about activating it. Pleased with his performances on the pitch but not with the financial implications, the club has explored alternative ways to keep Rashford—including pushing for a renegotiated fee or proposing a second loan spell. United have rejected both approaches so far.
Mundo Deportivo reports that Rashford, whose wages during the loan have been covered by Barcelona, had already agreed several months ago to a three-year contract that reflected his earlier willingness last summer to forgo as much as 40% of his Manchester United salary—estimated at roughly $22.5 million per year.
That figure would have placed him near the top of Barcelona's wage scale, but the reduced salary of around $13.5 million sits more in the middle tier. That seems fitting for a player who isn't a guaranteed starter but still makes an impact—Rashford has contributed 14 goals and 14 assists this season, though he plays second fiddle to Lamine Yamal and Raphinha and has started just 25 of his 48 outings.
Even so, between the fixed transfer fee and the reduced salary across three years, Barcelona still face a financial hurdle. The combined cost of the fee and wages, spread across the contract length through amortization, would amount to $25 million per season for the club.
Marcus Rashford Amortization Cost
The Mundo Deportivo report explains that the $25 million annual cost is still viewed as too steep, which has led Rashford to put forward a fresh proposal. Rather than a three-year deal, he would be open to signing a five-year contract at no greater overall cost to the club—despite the two extra years—in order to reduce the annual amortization burden.
In practice, instead of receiving $40.5 million in wages across three seasons, the same total amount would be distributed over five years. This would further reduce his annual earnings—by another 40%—to just over $8 million. It would also spread the transfer fee payment across five years rather than three, cutting the yearly amortization cost from roughly $25 million down to $15 million.
On paper, the numbers look more attractive. However, Barcelona must now consider whether Rashford, who turns 29 in October, can remain a productive and valuable asset throughout the full length of the deal, or hold any meaningful resale value. The England international would be just four months away from his 34th birthday when this hypothetical contract concludes in 2031.
That concern is likely why reports suggest Barcelona may prefer to invest a larger transfer fee in a younger forward on a lower salary—such as Víctor Muñoz, Eli Junior Kroupi, or Abde Ezzalouli—since the overall cost may be comparable while offering greater upside. A younger signing would also be more likely to hold resale value or contribute productively for a longer period.
It also appears unlikely that Rashford will benefit from Robert Lewandowski's impending exit. The Polish striker is currently the club's top earner but will depart as a free agent when his contract ends next month. In theory, Barcelona could redirect some of those freed-up wages toward a deal for Rashford. However, replacing Lewandowski is a priority, no simple task, and is expected to come at a significant cost.