Teddy Sheringham Questions Rashford's Barcelona Move
Former Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham has delivered a blunt assessment of Marcus Rashford's transfer to Barcelona, insisting the England forward "didn't deserve" such a high-profile move given his recent form. However, Sheringham has also predicted that Rashford is likely to remain in Spain on a permanent basis this summer.
The Controversial Loan Switch
Rashford, a product of Manchester United's academy, completed a loan move to Barcelona last summer after it became clear he had no future at Old Trafford under then-manager Ruben Amorim. The pair reportedly did not see eye-to-eye, leading to Rashford being frozen out of the first team before seeking a new challenge elsewhere.
Barcelona's pursuit of Rashford raised eyebrows across European football, given the forward's modest goal return in his final seasons at Manchester United. Rashford managed just seven goals in the 2024-25 campaign and only eight the season before that, a far cry from his peak performances that had previously attracted Barcelona's interest.
Sheringham's Frank Assessment
Speaking to BestBettingSites, Sheringham offered his candid perspective on the transfer: "I don't think it's about the managers - it's more about what Marcus wants to do. He's gone over to Barcelona and, for me, he's got an unbelievable move - didn't deserve it - but he's gone there and changed his mentality."
The United legend continued: "It seems like Barcelona want to sign him, so if they do, they probably will. That would make it quite clear he doesn't want to come back to United, so he'll probably end up getting what he wants."
Rashford's Barcelona Performance
Despite Sheringham's reservations about the move's merit, he acknowledged Rashford's positive impact at Barcelona, particularly highlighting his performance against Newcastle United in the Champions League group stage earlier this season.
"I've not seen so much Spanish football," Sheringham admitted, "but when he came to Newcastle earlier in the season, in the group stage, he set the place alight. He scored a rocket — he got two that night — and had a really good impact."
Rashford has scored 11 goals in 40 appearances for Barcelona this season, contributing to their push for a potential La Liga and Champions League double. If successful, this would represent the first league title of the 28-year-old's professional career.
The Permanent Transfer Option
Barcelona reportedly holds a £26 million option to sign Rashford permanently this summer, a decision that appears increasingly likely according to Sheringham's assessment. "He's done very well there, and if they want to sign him, he's obviously doing very well for them and their hierarchy, so that's probably where he'll end up," the former England striker concluded.
Meanwhile, Manchester United's stance on Rashford hasn't significantly changed despite Amorim's departure. The club invested over £200 million in their attacking options last summer, bringing in Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha - all of whom have enjoyed successful debut seasons. This leaves Rashford well down the pecking order at Old Trafford, with United potentially looking to offload him to fund further summer business.
