Marcus Rashford ‘appears like a Barcelona star’ and he is ‘thriving’ in La Liga
EXCLUSIVE Marcus Rashford has enjoyed a good start to life in Catalonia and one La Liga commentator has told Daily Star Sport he’s “thriving” at Barcelona
Marcus Rashford’s loan move to Barcelona over the summer raised more than a couple of eyebrows.
Rashford, 28, had once been the golden boy in the red half of Manchester, but an acrimonious falling out with Ruben Amorim saw him looking for a loan move. He first moved to Aston Villa, where he showed glimpses of the star who once thrilled Old Trafford.
However, in Catalonia, he’s really started to find his feet again – and La Liga commentator Terry Gibson has been impressed with his start to life. Speaking to Daily Star Sport , he said: “He’s been really good – not spectacular, but better than I expected.
“He’s played more than I thought he would because Barcelona’s attackers have all been injured: Lewandowski, Ferran Torres, Yamal, Raphinha. Rashford’s been the only consistently fit one.
“Early on, he was adjusting to the style, but now he looks like a Barcelona player – he knows when to take people on, when to pass quickly, and presses better. That’s the biggest compliment: he looks like he belongs.
“If Barcelona’s attack is fully fit, their main three probably still start, but Rashford has proved he’s valuable. The squad needs him. Flick clearly likes him.”
Gibson added he enjoys watching Rashford at Barcelona as he’s “a player finding confidence again”.
He added: “At Manchester United and Villa, he was a high-profile player; at Barcelona, he fits into a group with Yamal, Raphinha, Lewandowski, Pedri, De Jong…he’s not the main focus. That helps.
“Coaching plays a part, too, and Flick’s responsibilities for him might be completely different from what he had at United.
“The fact that Flick works in English helps him massively.
“Flick was determined to get him when the rumours first circulated. I didn’t believe it at the time, but now you see the logic: great age, proven quality, just needed guidance.
“He’s found his feet again and put himself back in the frame for the World Cup.”
FC Barcelona vs Atlético de Madrid is available for fans in the UK to watch on Premier Sports 1, from 7:55pm on Tuesday.
