FC Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle with Manchester United for Marcus Rashford and with the two clubs exchanging documents, the Englishman is expected to be on his way to Spain to undergo his medical tomorrow.
Barcelona will be taking on the 27-year-old attacker on a season-long loan with an option to buy for €30m, and he will be hoping to resurrect his faltering career in Catalunya. With this being a World Cup year, Rashford is likely to be extra motivated to fight his way back into the Three Lions setup.
Now, as per SPORT, Hansi Flick has a plan for Marcus Rashford that involves him being the perfect substitute for him. The German coach expects the Englishman to play a starring role off the bench and provide massive impact.
Flick’s first-choice attackers
Flick sees Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal as his three first-choice attackers, following up on their performances from last season. Ferran Torres, last season’s super-sub is expected to be a close fourth.
The addition of Rashford gives Flick further options, and one has to assume that he would be used as a left-winger. Of course, the German coach’s plan to use him as a substitute isn’t necessarily set in stone, and he could help Flick innovate with multiple tactical setups.
Flick could use Rashford from the left and move Raphinha further into midfield as an attacking #10. This could be a setup he uses against La Liga teams that love to sit in a low-block, as it increases the attacking firepower for Barcelona.
A versatile forward
Rashford can also be used as a #9, if the necessity arises, although that position of a backup striker is now very much Ferran Torres’. Regardless, it is always good to have an option in the squad, should the need arise.
The presence of Alejandro Balde alongside him should provide Rashford with the perfect environment to thrive. The Spaniard’s overlapping runs, much like Luke Shaw’s, should allow the 27-year-old Englishman to drift in and cause havoc. Let’s wait and see how the on-loan forward fares in a Blaugrana jersey in the coming weeks.
