RASHFORD REBORN WITH BARCELONA

In this new series, The Sunday Times highlights the standout players or teams to watch in the world of sport. Today, we focus on Marcus Rashford’s upturn in form following his loan move from Manchester United to Barcelona.

- Andy Ng Correspondent

When Barcelona face Sevilla in La Liga on Oct 5, all eyes will inevitably be on Marcus Rashford, the Manchester United loanee whose resurgence has injected fresh dynamism into Hansi Flick’s squad.

Since arriving at the Spanish giants on a season-long loan in July, the 27-year-old has transformed from a sidelined figure at Old Trafford to a key contributor in Catalonia, boosting his hopes for a spot in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the 2026 World Cup.

His recent form — two goals and five assists in nine games in all competitions — positions him as a pivotal player to watch against a Sevilla side looking to disrupt Barcelona’s title defence.

Rashford’s move came after a turbulent spell at United, where he was exiled by manager Ruben Amorim and spent the second half of the 2024-25 season on loan at Aston Villa.

United’s dismal 15th-place finish in the Premier League underscored the club’s struggles, and Rashford’s fallout with the Portuguese over perceived attitude issues sealed his departure.

In contrast, Barcelona, fresh off a domestic treble under Flick, offered a dream landing spot.

Rashford himself described Barca as “a place where dreams come true” and a “family club”, echoing his longstanding admiration for Spanish football, which dates back to his youth watching La Liga matches.

But beyond the romance, what has truly reignited his spark?

The differences between the environments at Barcelona and United - tactical structure, coaching philosophy, reduced pressure, and a shift in personal mindset - have been instrumental.

One of the most striking contrasts lies in the tactical setup.