Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has admitted he will miss Marcus Rashford after the winger’s loan spell with the LaLiga title winners, effectively confirming the Englishman will not be returning to Spain.
Rashford scored 14 goals and provided 14 assists during his stint on loan from Manchester United and said he wanted to extend his stay. But Barcelona have since signed wingers Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi for a combined £106.5 million, making it highly unlikely they will activate Rashford’s £26 million optional purchase clause.
“I appreciate a lot working with him as he’s a fantastic player and fantastic person,” Flick said. “I think also the team miss him and I will miss him, but that’s life. This is what we have to accept.”
The development leaves the 28-year-old facing a return to Old Trafford, now under manager Michael Carrick, having previously indicated he was ready to leave the club.
Rashford, who has two years remaining on his United contract, said in May that if he were a magician he would stay at Barcelona, calling the squad a wonderful team that would win much more in the future.
He is expected to attract interest from other clubs after a season that included a place in England’s World Cup squad, where he scored in a 4-2 opening win over Croatia.
