Marcus Rashford’s Barcelona debut was the realisation of a dream from a player who many Man Utd fans thought was already living one at Old Trafford.
Hansi Flick trusted Marcus Rashford with some minutes less than a week after arriving from Man Utd without taking part in any team training.
Rashford’s Barcelona debut showed signs of the player who will excite La Liga, even though it will frustrate Ruben Amorim to an extent.
Here’s how the Spanish press reacted to Rashford’s debut for Barcelona.
Spanish press on Marcus Rashford’s Barcelona debut
Rashford played 33 minutes in the 3-1 win against Vissel Kobe in Japan, after which he seemed satisfied with his performance, thanking Hansi Flick.
He created the chance that led to Robert Lewandowski’s assist for Barcelona’s third goal, and could have won a penalty as well.
The Spanish press, which is famously hard to impress, seemed impressed by Rashford’s effort on his debut.
Mundo Deportivo wrote that he displayed his class ‘from the first moment’, and didn’t even need to use his ‘towering physicality’ to make a difference.
They wrote, “He didn’t score, but that was the least of it. He lived up to expectations. The English striker didn’t need to impose his prodigious physicality, his towering height. He simply displayed his class across the pitch. He did so from the first moment.
“He was attentive to his tackles and defensive assists, one of the aspects the staff wants to strengthen. Rashford wasn’t guilty of being an individualist; he avoided it, although he did lead offensive plays.”
El Pais acknowledged that Rashford’s fitness had to be managed but deemed the overall performance ‘acceptable’, despite the lack of consistency, which can be built in the pre-season.
Ole praised Rashford’s ‘constant runs’ down the left, noting his contribution in the passage of play, which eventually resulted in Barcelona scoring their third.
El Heraldo also pointed out Rashford’s attacking endeavour, which led to Barcelona creating dangerous scoring opportunities, with the forward eager to impress.
La Prensa ran a picture-only blog with notable moments from the blog, and Rashford made it on that one, with the outlet writing, “Rashford had plenty of time to show off his class on the pitch, a distinctive performance that Flick appreciated.”
Man Utd fans would have predicted it
The obvious caveat is that it’s just the first game, that too in Japan against Vissel Kobe, but Rashford’s encouraging performance was along the expected lines.
When he’s on it, Rashford is one of the most thrilling players to watch in world football, so his good displays at Barcelona won’t surprise anyone.
Man Utd fans can look at it wistfully and with a thought of “what if”, but the reality is that Rashford was never going to replicate this form at Old Trafford anymore.
He’s loved in Barcelona, clearly feels supported by Flick, and with time and match fitness, will only play better from this point onwards.
United will just hope the buy option is triggered next summer so they can finally, permanently, move on.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
