Confusion reigns over Marcus Rashford’s buy option at Barcelona as Man Utd star’s camp respond to claims

Conflicting reports have thrown the future of Marcus Rashford’s loan at Barcelona into fresh uncertainty, with sources inside and outside the Catalan club offering contradictory versions of the €30 million purchase clause.

Spanish radio network Cadena SER triggered the debate on Wednesday by asserting that the option to buy the Manchester United forward had lapsed on 31 March and was “no longer valid.” Within hours, however, competing outlets produced sharply different timelines.

Diario Sport, citing Rashford’s entourage, insists the clause remains active “for a while longer,” while Mundo Deportivo quotes Barcelona sources who “categorically deny” any suggestion that the deadline has passed. ESPN has since weighed in, reporting that the option is valid until 15 June and can be settled in three €10 million instalments scheduled for July 2026, 2027 and 2028.

The mixed messaging has prompted Rashford’s representatives to re-establish contact with Camp Nou officials to clarify the club’s intentions before the summer window opens. Barcelona are understood to prefer a second loan spell, but Manchester United are pushing for a permanent sale.

Amid the uncertainty, Rashford’s national-team coach has offered a vote of confidence, claiming the 26-year-old is “destined for the same heights as Mohamed Salah.” Whether that potential is fulfilled in Spain or elsewhere may hinge on which version of the buy-option timeline ultimately proves correct.