Marcus Rashford has gone public with his desire to play alongside teenage superstar Lamine Yamal at Barcelona as he continues to seek a move away from Manchester United.
Rashford has been keen on a move to Barcelona for some time and his brother Dwaine Maynard held talks with Barcelona sporting director Deco in Spain last month over a potential £40million move.
With the Catalan side switching their focus onto Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams for now, the out-of-favour United forward took matters into his own hands by sitting down with Spanish influencer Javi Ruiz in Marbella.
Asked if he would like to one day play with Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal, Rashford said: ‘Of course I’d love to. Everyone wants to play with the best. Hopefully… we’ll see.’
Rashford’s future prospects at United under Ruben Amorim seem futile after a falling out and his priority is to land a move to Spain.
‘Spain is nice, and it’s not too far from home,’ Rashford added to the YouTuber.
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has talked up how he loves life in Spain
He sat down with two Spanish YouTubers to stoke talk of a future move to join Barcelona
‘If I train here for an extended period, it’s great because my family can come visit for a few days — it’s just a three-hour flight. The weather’s good here too.’
Barcelona sporting director Deco went public last month that the Catalan side ‘like’ Rashford, along with Liverpool winger Luis Diaz.
Deco then met the player’s representative Maynard at a hotel in the city to discuss parameters for a potential move.
Rashford, who is under contract at Old Trafford for another three years, is unlikely to play for his boyhood club again while Amorim remains in charge.
United want to move the 27-year-old’s £315,000-a-week salary off their wage bill after he spent the second half of this season on loan at Aston Villa, and will listen to offers of £40m.
The issue Rashford has with a dream move to Barcelona is that they are accelerating a move for Bilbao star Williams.
Barcelona have agreed personal terms with the winger and boss Hansi Flick is eager to tie up a move for one of the most talented wide players in Europe.
That leaves United in a spot of bother with a return to pre-season training looming and a mutual desire from club and player side to part ways.
Lamine Yamal is the jewel in Barcelona’s crown and Rashford spoke of a desire to play with him
Rashford spent last season on loan with Aston Villa but no permanent move transpired
Barcelona sporting director Deco admitted he was interested in signing Rashford last month
Rashford’s brother and agent Dwaine Maynard (far right) met with Barcelona chiefs
Any money United make from a potential Rashford sale would count as pure profit in their PSR calculations.
Rashford is understood to want to play in the Champions League as the 62-cap England international aims to win a place in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad next summer.
Rashford was called up by Tuchel back in March, but he was absent from this month’s internationals after missing the final period of the season due to a hamstring injury.
