Barcelona have cancelled their first pre-season friendly, meaning fans will have to wait a bit longer to see Marcus Rashford in action. The England star recently joined the Spanish giants from Manchester United, but his much anticipated debut is now temporarily on hold.
Barca announced the arrival of the 27-year-old on a season-long loan from Manchester United on Wednesday, and Softfootball understands that the Spanish giants have the option to make his move permanent at the end of the season.
Although Rashford accepted a pay cut on his £325,000-a-week wage, he will remain one of the highest-paid players in Europe.
Marcus Rashford is the first English player to sign for Barcelona since Gary Lineker in 1986, and he’s set to wear the iconic No.14 shirt during his loan spell at Camp Nou, a number once worn by club legend Thierry Henry.
The England international was expected to make his muchanticipated debut in Sunday’s friendly against Vissel Kobe, marking his first outing in Barcelona colours.
But just moments after his official unveiling, the club announced that the match had been suspended due to unresolved contractual issues. The club’s statement as seen on Barca official website read:
“FC Barcelona announces that it has been obliged to suspend its participation in the game scheduled for next Sunday in Japan due to serious contractual breaches on behalf of the promotor.
“Nevertheless, the Club will consider readjusting the leg of the summer tour in South Korea, where two games are scheduled against FC Seoul [July 31] and Daegu FC [August 4], if certain conditions are met by the promotor.
“If these conditions are met, then the Club will travel to South Korea in the coming days.
“FC Barcelona regrets this incident and the impact it will have on the many, many Barca fans in Japan.”
It is no secret that Rashford was not Barcelona’s first choice target this summer. Their pursuit of Athletic Club’s Nico Williams ended when he signed a new contract in Bilbao. They also admired Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, but it was expected to cost too much to prise him from the Premier League champions.
Rashford, who they did not have to pay a transfer fee for arrived as a reasonable alternative. He will be used predominantly off the left, as cover for Brazil’s Raphinha, who had an outstanding season last year.
Rashford could also get minutes through the middle covering Robert Lewandowski, who is nearly 37, although Ferran Torres is viewed as the back-up in that position.
