'Very intense' - Marcus Rashford admits to enduring 'difficult' pre-season at Barcelona as he adjusts to Hansi Flick's 'complex' training routine

Rashford is finding out just how relentless the pace can be at a club obsessed with intensity and precision. Speaking candidly about his early weeks with Barca, the forward admitted he has struggled to adapt to Flick’s “very intense” methods, particularly during a sweltering tour of Asia.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football Podcast, Rashford said: "Here, it is very intense. It is difficult to explain, but the pre-season has been difficult; I was tired after every workout, and the weather also played a role. Running is not difficult; it is more about practising with the ball and maintaining a consistent level. In this sense, the intensity is more complex."

Despite the exhausting workload, Rashford insists the experience has been invigorating. The chance to share the pitch with some of Europe’s most gifted young stars, including Spanish sensation Pedri, has been a source of real joy.

"Honestly, it is very refreshing to be able to play with these players and play football at their own tempo [rhythm] like Pedri, who I think is only 22 or 23 years old," he said. "I hope to have a good individual season, but if I have to choose between that and winning titles, choose to win titles."

However, Rashford’s immediate future on the pitch is far from certain. Barcelona president Joan Laporta has sounded the alarm over the possibility that the loanee may not be registered in time for the club’s La Liga opener against Mallorca on August 16. 

Laporta said: "We're working to make it happen. With Marc-Andre ter Stegen's decision, we have the option of registering Joan Garcia, and we're working on the rest. This week, we'll have news, hopefully good news, to see if we can register them before La Liga starts. And if we can't, we have time."

Barcelona reportedly have until the end of August to finalise player registrations for the new campaign. This means that, while Rashford could still make his official debut later in the month, fans might have to wait a little longer to see him in competitive action. In the meantime, he continues to push himself through Flick’s high-octane training sessions, knowing that his early performances could shape whether Barcelona make his stay permanent.