The Manchester United academy graduate is set to take a pay cut to stay at the Nou Camp after Barcelona agree to trigger his €30m buyout clause.
The long-running saga of Marcus Rashford’s future is finally reaching its endgame. According to reports from Spain, Barcelona have officially accepted the £26 million (€30m) buyout clause to sign the Manchester United forward on a permanent basis this summer.
Despite initial attempts by the Catalan giants to negotiate a lower fee, Rashford’s impressive tally of 10 goals and 13 assists under Hansi Flick has convinced sporting director Deco to sanction the full payment.
The “Crunch Meeting” with Deco
Negotiations accelerated on Monday when Rashford’s agents met with Deco to finalize the structure of the deal. While the transfer fee is set, the focus has shifted to personal terms.
Crucially, Rashford has made it clear he is “happy to make concessions” regarding his Manchester United salary (reportedly £350k-a-week) to fit into Barcelona’s financial structure. The agreement is being “calmly finalized,” with an official announcement expected at the end of the season.
Rashford: “I Am in the Perfect Place”
In a candid interview with SPORT, Rashford hinted that his chapter at Old Trafford is closed, citing the need for “maximum demand” to stay motivated.
“Of course, what I want is to stay at Barca. It’s an end goal,” Rashford admitted. “I can’t be in a place where important objectives are not demanded of you. For me, it is more difficult to be motivated at a club where the demand is not maximum.”
The forward recently teased the development on Instagram, using an hourglass emoji to suggest that his permanent move is only a matter of time.
Financial Impact: A Bitter Pill for United?
| Detail | Status |
| Transfer Fee | £26,000,000 (€30m) |
| Buyout Clause | Triggered by Barcelona |
| Status | Personal terms being finalized |
| Announcement | Expected end of 2025/26 season |
While the £26m represents “pure profit” on the balance sheet for United as an academy product, many fans may feel the fee is remarkably low for a player of Rashford’s profile and current form. However, for the INEOS regime, clearing his massive wages is seen as a vital step in the Christopher Vivell-led squad rebuild.
Filepe Junior is a football writer tracking La Liga transfers, covering major signings, squad planning, and player movements across Spanish clubs.
