Rashford saga ends with United paying heavy price

Attacker leaves Old Trafford for Barcelona loan move

- RICHARD JOLLY SENIOR FOOTBALL CORRESPONDENT

There is a history of Manchester United turnarounds at the Nou Camp. Now there may be another. A player who, six months ago, was not even granted a place on the bench for the team who went on to finish 15th in the Premier League, is now being unveiled as Barcelona’s new signing. For Marcus Rashford, it feels like quite a comeback.

He may go from Ruben Amorim’s bomb squad to Hansi Flick’s bench. He might only be plan C after Nico Williams performed a U-turn to stay at Athletic Bilbao and Liverpool rebuffed an approach for Luis Diaz. As Flick’s forward line consists of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal, Rashford could yet spend much of his time watching on.

And yet a loan move could feel evidence of his class and enduring appeal; vindication of his strategy, too. Since December, when Rashford said he wanted a new challenge, Barcelona has felt his dream destination, but far from United’s ideal scenario. The Catalan club’s well-documented financial problems meant the prospect of a sizeable transfer fee always felt remote. Now Rashford heads out on his second successive loan, with Barcelona possessing a €30m (£26m) option to make it a permanent deal. But United could be scarred by past clauses: they thought one meant Jadon Sancho was going to Chelsea on a long-term basis, and he is back on their books.