Marcus Rashford has joined Barcelona on loan for the 2025/26 season and the move could be made permanent next year.
Laporta has discussed Rashford’s move. (Image: 2024 AFP7)
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has admitted there were two other players under consideration while the club worked on a deal for Marcus Rashford.
The Catalan club will cover Rashford’s wages during his loan at Camp Nou, which is estimated to save Manchester United around £12million, and have the option to sign him permanently.
Barcelona were linked with Liverpool forward Luis Diaz before reaching an agreement to sign Rashford. Liverpool have reiterated that the Colombia international is not for sale this summer, which Laporta has revealed contributed to finding an agreement with United to sign Rashford on loan.
The La Liga champions also considered signing Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao. The winger was offered to Barcelona, but eventually signed a new long-term contract with the Basque club.
Laporta spoke to Mundo Deportivo to give insight on the Rashford deal and the 63-year-old admitted Rashford was an option alongside Diaz and Williams this summer.
“It was a more complex matter than the goalkeeper situation due to the variety of opinions coming from all sides,” Barcelona’s president said. “There were several options, and I’m very pleased that we ultimately secured the one I liked the most.
“It’s true I also liked Luis Diaz, a very complete player, but given Liverpool’s rigid stance, it was difficult. Still, I’m grateful that the player showed interest in joining us at all times.
“Then there was the case of Nico Williams. Seeing that the Diaz option was complicated and while we were in talks with Rashford, Nico’s agent came forward offering a deal.
“Deco brought it to my attention. At first, I preferred to focus on the other two options, but in these cases, I always trust the sporting director’s judgment. Deco suggested we at least hear them out because Nico is an interesting player who can hold the width on the wing.
“Negotiations were held, but the gap between what was initially presented and the final terms was significant — in terms of payment timelines, agent fees, and other variables — to the point where the deal no longer looked feasible.
“Deco set a 48-hour deadline, and if our conditions weren’t accepted, the deal would be off. In the end, it didn’t happen. Meanwhile, we kept working on the other two deals, and Rashford’s situation began to take shape.”
Laporta was asked what he liked about Rashford and responded: “We’re very pleased because we’re bringing in a player of outstanding quality, at a great age to join Barca, and with exceptional motivation.
“I’ve personally seen just how excited he is about coming here. One of his greatest virtues is his sincerity. His dream was to play his entire career at Manchester United.
“He joined them at age seven and built a meaningful life there. He wanted to be a ‘one-club man.’ It’s heartwarming when a player says that so openly. But when something happened in his life that he didn’t expect, he looked toward the team he had always admired – Barca.
“He had faced us before and already had Barca on his radar. He was loaned to Aston Villa to showcase that he’s the best player of his generation, the best in England, and he now says his greatest motivation is to win the Champions League with Barca and the World Cup with England.”
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