Gary Lineker has tipped Marcus Rashford to shine on loan at Barcelona after leaving Manchester United in the summer transfer window.
Rashford’s loan deal, announced by Barcelona on Wednesday, will last for 12 months and includes an option for the Spanish top-flight champions to buy him at the end of the season.
Barcelona reportedly must pay United €35m (£30.3m) to transform the loan spell into a permanent transfer in the summer of 2026.
The Catalan club will cover Rashford’s wages during his season-long loan after the 27-year-old forward agreed to take a 25 per cent pay cut.
Lineker: Rashford will ‘do great’ at Barcelona
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‘I think he will do great,’ Lineker, who was the last male English player at Barcelona before Rashford, told Sky Sports about the move.
‘I think it is a great challenge. Yes, they have got brilliant players, it will be tough to play regularly. But there are so many games that they play now.
‘They have got a front three of Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal but you can’t play three players every game in and out.
‘And Lewandowski (36) is past his best really now. It’s remarkable for what he is achieving at this age.
‘I think this is a good signing for Barcelona as well, and Marcus at his best is unbelievable.’
‘Something at Man Utd is a little bit wrong’
Lineker added: ‘Let’s look at what’s happened to the players who have left Manchester United recently, the players who you thought are really struggling, they have done unbelievably well everywhere else.
‘So, there is something at Manchester United at the moment that is a little bit wrong. The players who have got away from there have generally succeeded.
‘Like we’ve seen at Villa, he was terrific. And I think he can do the same sort of thing for Barcelona. I very much hope so.’
The move means Rashford may’ve already played his final game for United, following 426 appearances, after progressing through the club’s academy.
Rashford has spent the last 20 years at Old Trafford – joining the club at the age of seven from Fletcher Moss Rangers.
He has registered 138 goals and 77 assists for the Red Devils but has struggled for form at United for around two years and was dramatically banished from the first team by Ruben Amorim in December.
Rashford was subsequently sent out on loan to fellow Premier League side Aston Villa for the second half of the 2024-25 campaign.
During his time at Villa, Rashford rediscovered his form, producing six assists and four goals (10 goal involvements) across 17 appearances.