Why Marcus Rashford\u2019s permanent move to Barcelona could fall through has been revealed, and it would NOT be through financial troubles in Catalonia or anything to do with Manchester United.<\/p>\n
Rashford<\/a>, 28, joined Barcelona<\/a> on a season-long loan last summer, with the deal containing an option to buy for \u20ac30m.<\/p>\n The Man Utd<\/a> man has shone in Spain, notching 23 goal contributions (10 goals, 13 assists) in 34 appearances. Making those numbers all the more impressive is the fact Rashford hasn\u2019t been a guaranteed starter.<\/p>\n Rashford would love nothing more than to turn the loan spell permanent. TEAMtalk were previously informed he\u2019s already told Man Utd of his strong desire to remain a Barcelona player<\/a> beyond this season.<\/p>\n More recently, there have been reports of Michael Carrick speaking to the winger in the hopes he\u2019ll change his mind<\/a> and return to Old Trafford next season. All reports have claimed Carrick\u2019s plea has fallen on deaf ears.<\/p>\n Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Barcelona do intend to sign Rashford to a permanent deal<\/a>. Whether Barca will simply activate the option or attempt to negotiate a slightly lower pay\/superior payment terms with Man Utd remains to be seen.<\/p>\n But according to a fresh report from The Times<\/a>, it may not matter if those currently at Barcelona want Rashford, because not long from now, those in situ might be out of a job.<\/p>\n Elections to appoint Barcelona\u2019s president for the next five years got underway today (Monday). Joan Laporta is the current president and is seeking re-election.<\/p>\n Laporta is obviously a backer of Rashford, having signed off on his arrival earlier this year. However, he\u2019s facing a serious challenge to his reign from his leading rival, Victor Font.<\/p>\n The Times strongly suggested that if Font wins, Laporta won\u2019t be the only one turfed out, with sporting director, Deco, also likely to be replaced.<\/p>\n In effect, those who were responsible for bringing Rashford on board would not be around to determine whether the loan is turned permanent in the summer.<\/p>\n In the report\u2019s words, \u2018Marcus Rashford\u2019s Barcelona future hangs on presidential election\u2019. From his perspective, and given that he wants to stay at Spotify Camp Nou, Rashford will be praying Laporta succeeds with his quest for re-election.<\/p>\n Of course, the obvious question to ask is if Rashford has done so well, why wouldn\u2019t the new regime take up the option to buy?<\/p>\n The Times noted part of Font\u2019s campaigning for election will comprise attacks on Laporta\u2019s handling of Barca\u2019s delicate financial situation during his term, as well as the signings the club have made, which includes Rashford.<\/p>\n \u2018The Laporta of late middle age is more pragmatic and will seek re-election less as a bold idealist and more as a deft firefighter,\u2019 they wrote.<\/p>\n \u2018It was Laporta who steered Bar\u00e7a, post-Covid, though the restrictions of a mountainous debt, initiated the stadium rebuild and oversaw nimble manoeuvres in a challenging transfer market.<\/p>\n \u2018They include the capture of Rashford, 28; the revival of a talent marginalised at United, and, come the summer, available long-term for a shrewd value-for-money price. All these aspects of the Rashford package look good on Laporta\u2019s election manifesto.<\/p>\n \u2018Rivals for the presidency will, until the March 15 polling day, attack Laporta for his short-termism, for his ad hoc solutions to tackling institutional debt by mortgaging projected future income to third parties. Campaigning will, as ever, turn catty and personal.<\/p>\n \u2018Laporta\u2019s leading rival, the businessman Victor Font, is urging voters \u2014 club members, a majority of them season-ticket holders \u2014 \u201cto decide if we want to carry on with a 1980s-style system based around a single individual or choose a pluralist project that brings in the best in the world in every area to maintain sporting success and protect the club\u2019s future\u201d.\u2019<\/p>\n Want more breaking transfer lines from original sources? Add TEAMtalk as a preferred source on Google <\/a>to your favourites list for news you can trust.<\/p>\n Latest Man Utd news<\/p>\n In other news,\u00a0Man Utd have placed Sandro Tonali high on their shortlist of central midfielders<\/a> for the summer, and how much Newcastle will command before waving goodbye and where the Arsenal target wants to go have come to light.<\/p>\n Elsewhere,\u00a0\u00a0Gary Neville has quelled growing calls for Michael Carrick to be named as the next permanent manager at Manchester United after sensationally revealing\u00a0why the 44-year-old could turn down the opportunity<\/a><\/p>\n