Barcelona could be without Rashford for their La Liga opener; Szczesny likely to be ruled out
Financial Fair Play delays could also sideline Szczesny against Mallorca
Barcelona’s first match of the 2025/26 La Liga season could be missing one of their biggest summer signings. According to AS, Marcus Rashford may not be registered in time to face Mallorca on Saturday, August 16, due to ongoing player registration problems at the club.
Joan García Priority, Szczesny Likely Out
The Catalan giants are prioritizing the registration of first-choice goalkeeper Joan García, making his inclusion the main administrative focus. While Sport suggests Rashford’s paperwork could still be processed in time, backup goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is expected to be left out of the squad for the opener.
Financial Fair Play Strikes Again
Barcelona’s registration headache stems from La Liga’s strict Financial Fair Play rules, which cap squad spending relative to club revenue. To create room for new arrivals, the Blaugrana have been actively offloading players in recent weeks, with Iñigo Martínez and Pau Víctor already departing.
Possible Departure on Matchday
The next likely exit is young defender Héctor Fort, who could be sold immediately after the Mallorca match. The La Masia graduate has attracted interest from several clubs, including Mallorca themselves and France’s Paris FC.
As things stand, Rashford’s debut at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys may have to wait unless Barcelona can pull off a last-minute registration before kickoff.
