'Sport' newspaper confirmed that German coach Hans Flick had initial contact with English player Marcus Rashford last May to explain Barcelona's project and the expected role for him within the team, after Nico Williams was the Catalan club's first choice at that time.

According to the newspaper, Rashford showed a strong desire to join Barcelona despite the difficulty of securing a starting spot in the lineup. The option became available to him after the Nico Williams deal failed due to his contract renewal with Athletic Bilbao. Matters were facilitated after a partial agreement on the player's salary with Manchester United, where Rashford agreed to reduce his salary by 15% to ease his transfer on loan, with an option to buy permanently at the end of the season for approximately 30 million euros.

The report indicated that the player's experience at Barcelona began with a few training sessions before starting the Asian tour, which was his first experience outside English football. Flick's role was crucial in easing Rashford's adaptation, as he communicated with him several times and helped him integrate with his teammates, especially Roni Bardhi, Eric Garcia, and Ferran Torres, while Thiago Alcantara helped him understand the club's intricacies.

The report clarified that Barcelona's management is satisfied with Rashford's current level and that the relationship between him and Flick is very positive. The final decision regarding activating the purchase option will be made between February and May, amid ongoing evaluation of the player's performance and his suitability for the team's project.