Flick tight-lipped on Rashford’s future at Barcelona

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick refused to be drawn on whether the club will exercise their €30 million purchase option for on-loan winger Marcus Rashford after the England international’s latest decisive contribution.

Rashford struck the equaliser as 10-man Atlético Madrid were beaten 2-1 at the Metropolitano, a result that stretched Barça’s La Liga advantage to seven points. Robert Lewandowski’s late winner completed the turnaround, yet it was Rashford’s 11th goal in all competitions this season that again underlined his growing influence on the Spanish leaders.

Barcelona negotiated a permanent clause when agreeing the January loan with Manchester United, but Flick insists no call will be made before the campaign’s climax.

“I’m very happy with Marcus. He has shown his quality and he scored an important goal,” Flick told reporters. “I can’t say anything about his future, we have to focus on the matches until the end of the season.”

The 28-year-old’s strike against Atlético was his third in as many league outings, form that has helped Barça pull clear at the summit and intensified debate among supporters over whether the club should trigger the summer clause.

With eight fixtures remaining, Rashford’s immediate priority will be maintaining momentum as Flick’s side chase a domestic double, while the club’s hierarchy weigh up a significant outlay on a player whose resurgence has mirrored Barcelona’s surge to the top.