Nothing is ever promised in the world of elite football.
Even a player with a big name and a big history, like Marcus Rashford, has to keep proving himself every day. At a club like FC Barcelona, what matters is what you do in the here and now.
As of now, Manchester United are insisting that Barca pay the €30 million purchase option to make the signing of Rashford permanent.
A month ago, it was starting to feel like a given. Rashford hasn’t been a world beater for Barcelona, but in the first half of
the season, he was scoring goals, and getting assists while Raphinha was out injured. At that time, he was a regular in Hansi Flick’s lineup, and he was making his minutes count.
€30 million is a lot of money for Barcelona at the moment, but still, it’s a good deal on paper given the going rate for forwards of Rashford’s caliber on the market.
According to reports, his lack of minutes of late wasn’t performance related, but rather a niggling knee injury that he hasn’t been able to shake that dates back to the game against Mallorca.
We’ll see after the international break how Flick uses Rashford in the business end of the season.
There’s no doubt that Raphinha and Lamine Yamal will need breaks to stay fresh and at their best. With Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski struggling for top form, you have to ask the question if Rashford leading the attack is worth trying.
Whatever the scenario, Rashford needs minutes because he still has a lot to prove as a Barcelona player. Whether Joan Laporta pulls the trigger on signing him could very well come down to what he is able to give to the team when the season is on the line.
It’s not just goals and assists.
One of my doubts continues to be that he looks like a player who is allergic to pressing. He’s not the only one on this Barcelona team by the way, but he is the only one without a contract to fall back on.
In Flick’s system, intensity matters.
So what does Rashford have to do going forward?
Show up to every game with energy and desire. Show that you want a future at the world’s greatest club, and that you’re willing to fight for it.
Rashford must own his destiny.
