Sir Alex Ferguson, who turns 84 on Wednesday, has long been an admirer of Marcus Rashford, and the legendary manager's faith in the forward remains clear even as the player's future at Barcelona hangs in the balance. Rashford, 28, joined Barcelona on loan last summer after a falling out with Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, following a previous loan spell at Aston Villa. The England international has impressed in Spain, netting seven goals and providing 11 assists for Hansi Flick's side.
However, uncertainty over a permanent move arose due to wage disputes. Spanish outlet El Nacional reported that Rashford was unwilling to take a pay cut after already agreeing to a 25% salary reduction, earning £12.1million a year at Barcelona. But Sport now suggests a breakthrough has been made, with the forward open to discussing a further wage decrease to fit within the club's salary cap. This U-turn is likely to disappoint Ferguson, who always believed Rashford could achieve greatness at Old Trafford.
According to The Telegraph, Ferguson told close sources he had envisaged managing Rashford at United and stressed the importance of deploying his talents correctly. The former manager was convinced he could unlock Rashford's optimal role, noting that many coaches mistakenly play him in unsuitable positions. Following United's 2023 Carabao Cup triumph, Ferguson said: 'He operates from the left hand side which is fantastic. His finishing is always good, keeps his shots down.'
Ferguson has also praised Rashford's charitable work, particularly his campaign against child food poverty. At the 2021 Football Writers' Association Tribute award ceremony, Ferguson said: 'I have known him since being a kid of seven... what he has achieved in the last few months is quite astonishing.' He even pledged up to £2million in matching contributions for the FareShare charity. Rashford, in turn, has spoken fondly of meeting Ferguson as a child, describing the experience as 'exciting'.
