Barcelona Confirm Rashford Absence for Historic Nou Camp Return
Barcelona have been dealt a significant blow ahead of their highly anticipated return to the Nou Camp, confirming that Marcus Rashford will miss Saturday's clash with Athletic Bilbao due to illness.
The Manchester United loanee has been struck down with the flu, ruling him out of the fixture that marks the reopening of the club's legendary, newly revamped stadium.
Official Statement Confirms Illness
The Catalan club released an official statement clarifying the situation, leaving no room for doubt about the player's availability. The statement read simply: "Marcus Rashford will miss today’s match against Athletic Club due to flu."
This news comes as a major disappointment for fans and the team alike, who were eager to see the England international feature in this landmark occasion for the club.
A Setback for Player and Club
Rashford's untimely illness represents a setback for both the player, who is looking to reignite his career during his loan spell away from Old Trafford, and for Barcelona manager Hansi Flick.
Flick will now have to reconfigure his attacking plans without the pace and threat of the Manchester United forward for a match that carries immense symbolic weight as the Nou Camp officially welcomes back supporters after its extensive redevelopment.
The focus now shifts to how Barcelona will perform without their key loan signing and when Rashford might be fit to return to action.
