Barcelona have reportedly pulled out of the race for Marcus Rashford, potentially opening the door for Tottenham Hotspur to step up their interest in the Manchester United forward.
Spurs have been heavily linked with a move for the 28-year-old in recent weeks, but Barcelona had long been considered the frontrunners to sign him permanently after a successful loan stint at the Nou Camp last season. The Catalan club held an option to buy Rashford for £26million, valid until Monday, but according to the Daily Mail, sources in Spain confirm they have decided against activating the clause — leaving him free to return to Old Trafford after the World Cup.
Barcelona’s decision was reportedly influenced by their £70million purchase of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United. The club are said to have preferred Gordon due to his defensive work rate — an area widely regarded as a weakness in Rashford’s game.
The collapse of Barcelona’s move comes as Rashford prepares to feature for England in their World Cup opener against Croatia, adding further intrigue to his club future.
Spurs Still Face Stiff Competition
Despite the boost for Tottenham, the north London side are unlikely to have a clear run at Rashford. The Daily Mail reports that Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea are all expected to enter the battle for his signature once the Barcelona option expires. Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have also been mentioned as possible destinations, complicating the picture further.
Rashford himself is said to favour a return to Barcelona, which could make convincing him to join Spurs a difficult task — regardless of the club’s ambitions under Roberto De Zerbi.
