Barcelona have decided that they did indeed need Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, after months of reports that the England international is very much keen on a move to Camp Nou. Here is a look at some of the advantages and drawbacks of signing Rashford for the Catalan side.

Excluded from Manchester United’s plans some time ago, Rashford has had plenty of time to think about his next steps in his career, and might have even turned to light entertainment to fill his evenings, such as padel, or online casino games. A loan move to Aston Villa in January got him back into the rhythm of competition though, and now he seems to be ready to forge ahead with his career abroad. Barcelona have reportedly made a loan offer with an option to buy for Rashford.

The Pros of signing Marcus Rashford

Rashford, at 27, should be coming into the prime of his career, and will no doubt have an eye on the England squad ahead of next year’s World Cup. That will be a motivation for him, beyond proving the doubters wrong. In terms of his skillset, Rashford brings a top-level ability to finish, be it from close range or from distance, something that will come in handy against more packed defences.

A versatile forward, Rashford can play across the frontline, but primarily from the left or through the middle, the areas where Barcelona want the most relief for Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski next season. He also has an ability to beat a defender and create space for a shot or a cross, something Barcelona felt they were overly reliant on Lamine Yamal for last season.

On a loan basis, it is both a cost-effective and risk-free option to bring in reinforcements too. The United academy product has also voiced a desire to play with Lamine Yamal.

The Cons of signing Marcus Rashford

On the other hand, it will certainly be a concern that the last two Manchester United managers have seen fit to dispose of Rashford as they seek to build a new team. Although he did reasonably well for Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, he certainly did not set the world alight either, and at this point, has spent multiple seasons out of the regular rhythm of top-level football.

Rashford can play from the left or through the middle, but there are doubts about his ability to track back on the left side compared to some of Barcelona’s alternatives. Neither is he the classic ‘winger’ that Barcelona began pursuing with Williams or Diaz, who would stretch the pitch more horizontally, where as Rashford would think to do so on a more vertical level.

As much as a loan is a risk-free option, both sides have little commitment to each other if there is not a click in the first half of the season. Getting him back up to speed without necessarily giving Rashford a consistent run could also be difficult.