‘Absolute robbery’: Ferdinand reacts to reports he’s hearing out of Man Utd over ‘steal’ of a deal

Rio Ferdinand has labelled the mooted £26 million permanent transfer of Marcus Rashford to Barcelona as “absolute robbery” and a “steal” for the Catalan club, after the on-loan forward underlined his value with a crucial strike against Atlético Madrid.

The 28-year-old, whose temporary switch to Camp Nou contains a purchase option set at that relatively modest figure, opened the scoring on Saturday night at the Metropolitano before Robert Lewandowski’s late winner stretched Barça’s La Liga lead over Real Madrid to seven points.

Despite the buy-out clause, reports in Spain indicate the Blaugrana hierarchy are reluctant to meet the valuation and would prefer either a second season-long loan or a discounted fee. Sources close to Old Trafford say Manchester United have shut the door on both proposals, insisting the £26 million clause is non-negotiable and that, if Barcelona balk, Rashford will simply return to Carrington this summer for INEOS to broker a deal elsewhere.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, former United captain Ferdinand praised Rashford’s recent form and warned Barça they are in line for a bargain.

“If Barcelona get him for the reported £26m that we’re talking about, and they get that version of Marcus Rashford (who scored vs Atlético), that is an absolute robbery, it’s a steal,” Ferdinand said. “So, as I said, I’ll just say good luck to him, I want him to do well, you know what I mean? Because I’ve seen him grow as a young player at Man United, and good luck to him in that sense.”

Rashford, who has flourished under Hansi Flick in both domestic and European competition, will hope to replicate his league display when Barcelona host Atlético on Wednesday in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.