Rashford won’t return to Manchester at any cost – willing to take pay cut to stay at Barcelona

In a fresh development in Marcus Rashford’s ongoing contract situation, reports from Spain suggest the 28-year-old is prepared to lower his salary in order to secure a permanent switch to FC Barcelona—a deal that now appears far from straightforward.

According to Marca earlier this week, Barcelona are planning a significant summer clear-out, with as many as five notable players expected to depart as part of a wider squad rebuild. Rashford’s name has been included in that group.

Barca’s exit list contains five players

This follows Hansi Flick’s side crashing out of the Champions League at the hands of Atletico Madrid. Still, they remain firmly on track to defend their La Liga crown—potentially as soon as this weekend—helped in part by Rashford’s impactful cameo and crucial second goal against Getafe CF.

Meanwhile, Mundo Deportivo claim Rashford sees his future exclusively at Barcelona, despite being tied to Manchester United until 2028. Even with uncertainty growing around the deal, his stance reportedly hasn’t changed.

His numbers this season underline his importance: 13 goals, 11 assists, and two penalties won across all competitions. Averaging a goal contribution every 89 minutes, he tops players from Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico in that metric. Not long ago, a permanent transfer seemed inevitable after an initial agreement had been struck.

That arrangement would allow Barcelona to sign him outright at the end of the campaign for a fixed fee—around £25 million (€30m).

However, recent developments suggest the move is in jeopardy. Barcelona are reportedly pushing to renegotiate the financial terms of the loan, while Manchester United remain firm on their valuation. Rashford’s age—he turns 29 in October—has also been cited as a factor.

Even so, his determination to stay appears unwavering. Mundo Deportivo report that he is open to taking a "significant" wage reduction to make the transfer happen.

The England international originally put pen to paper on a five-year deal worth £325,000 per week in July 2023, though he already agreed to a slight pay cut last summer to facilitate his move to Spain, where Barcelona were willing to cover his full salary.