Barcelona end permanent Rashford pursuit as Gordon signing shuts door on £26m deal

Barcelona have ended their interest in signing Marcus Rashford on a permanent basis, according to Spanish publication Marca, closing the door on a £26m deal that had been built into his loan arrangement with Manchester United.

Rashford enjoyed a productive season at the Catalan club under Hansi Flick, contributing to Barcelona’s La Liga title defence and earning a recall to England’s World Cup squad. Despite that form, the club have opted not to trigger the purchase option included in his loan agreement.

Marca reports that the arrival of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United was the decisive factor. Gordon was specifically targeted for his defensive work rate — described as Rashford’s weakest attribute — and his age, four years younger than the United academy graduate, is said to have tipped the balance further in his favour.

Barcelona reportedly approached United with a counter-offer of £13m — half the agreed purchase option — which the club rejected. United are not currently planning to reintegrate Rashford into Michael Carrick’s squad for next season, leaving his future unresolved heading into the summer window.

Rashford had publicly indicated his preference to remain in Spain, making Barcelona’s decision a significant blow to his hopes of securing a permanent move to the club. With United unwilling to lower their asking price and no alternative suitors yet reported, the 27-year-old faces a complicated few months before the transfer window closes.