Unlikely to stay at Barcelona beyond this season, Marcus Rashford may have put the final nail in his Camp Nou dreams.
The England winger was a second half substitute against Atletico Madrid as Barca were knocked out of the Champions League quarter finals 3-2 on aggregate.
Barca had a €30million purchase option in their loan deal with Manchester United, but that has reportedly already expired.
And while Barca could still try and low ball a deal with United keen to get rid, his performance away in Madrid may have put an end to that.
Rashford embarrasses Fermin
Explaining why, Cadena SER pundit Sique Rodríguez used Fermin Lopez as an example.
The attacking midfielder got a boot in the face from Atleti goalkeeper Juan Musso early on and was bleeding profusely.
He still continued bandaged up until the 68th minute, only for Rashford to replace him and show far less passion.
“What Fermín did is so impressive, considering what happened to him, he should have been substituted… and he lasted until the 68th minute,” Rodríguez explained.
“It was precisely this fierceness of the young Barça player that highlighted what happened afterward.
“It’s so outrageous, so outrageous, that the guys who replaced Fermín, and also Gavi and Ferrán, who had a fantastic game, came on with the attitude they did.
“I would have made Rashford, Lewandowski, and De Jong walk home.
“How can you go onto the pitch like that when you see a teammate who’s been busted?
“I get really angry, to be honest. They beat me up, substitute me, and a teammate comes on walking…
“I’d tell him: ‘Go to hell, mate.’”
Lewandowski also on his way out
Robert Lewandowski also came on the 68th minute and was equally as ineffective as Rashford.
Bruno Alemany agreed that their time might be up, saying: “They earn a lot of money.
“We’re talking about two players who might take home 46 million between them.
“I think there were reasonable doubts about Rashford before the game, but I was extremely disappointed by his contribution today.
“In fact, I think the game fundamentally changed when he and Lewandowski came on.”
He added: “I think it’s obviously not because of what they contribute on their own, but because of what those who leave no longer contribute.
“Considering the price asked for their transfer, how inconsistent they are, and how little impact they had on a match when you needed them most…
“It’s true that it might be unfair to make an assessment based on one game, but it’s also true that in football there are moments that are very crucial, and yes, today is one of those days.”
Lewandowski continues to be solidly linked to Juventus amid a huge drop off in form.
Both the player, his wife, and his agent have all indicated his time at Barca may be up.
Most recent reports claimed that Barca are willing to keep the Pole, but only on a new deal for almost half of what he currently earns.
Last night may have put an end to that, along with Barca’s endlessly tight situation with La Liga’s financial fair play regulations.
Leave a Reply