Barcelona moved one step closer to defending their La Liga crown as Robert Lewandowski came off the bench to net a late winner in Saturday's 2-1 victory over 10-man Atletico Madrid. Marcus Rashford had earlier got himself on the scoresheet for the Blaugrana as they moved seven points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table following Los Blancos' loss to Mallorca earlier in the day.
There were just a few minutes to go in the first half of Brazil's friendly with France last week when Raphinha began to experience what Carlo Ancelotti called "mild discomfort" in his right thigh. However, the mere fact that he failed to re-emerge for the second period at the Gillette Stadium immediately put Barcelona's medical team on red alert and they promptly reached out to the winger, desperately hoping to receive reassurance that he hadn't aggravated an issue that had already sidelined him twice this season.
Barcelona find themselves at a critical juncture regarding the future of Marcus Rashford, who is currently on loan at the Spotify Camp Nou from Manchester United. The club's alternative transfer targets have been revealed should they decide not to sign him outright.
Manchester United are preparing a massive financial reset by offloading five senior stars this summer. The move aims to slash more than £1 million per week from the payroll to fund a squad overhaul and ease the financial burden on the club.
Reports of the purchase option in Marcus Rashford’s loan agreement at Barcelona expiring have been addressed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. It has been suggested that the €30 million (£26m/$35m) buyout clause in the winger’s deal at Camp Nou is no longer valid, with parent club Manchester United therefore in a position to dictate what happens in the summer window.
Marcus Rashford's long-term future has been plunged into fresh doubt following reports that Barcelona have allowed a crucial transfer deadline to pass. The England forward, who has spent the campaign on loan at Camp Nou, now faces the prospect of an unexpected return to Manchester United this summer.
England's final two games on home soil before the 2026 World Cup were supposed to give Thomas Tuchel's men the perfect send-off for North America. However, instead of being waved off with flowers, the Three Lions left the Wembley pitch to the sound of boos following their 1-0 defeat to Japan on Tuesday, which followed their uninspiring draw against Uruguay four days earlier.
The 12 games of the Thomas Tuchel era have yielded mixed results and performances from England. They remain one of the best sides in international football, even if they haven't played particularly well for extended stretches since the Sir Gareth Southgate era. That said, they are among the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup for several reasons.
The road to the 2026 World Cup is almost over for England. The next time the Three Lions convene, they will do so for two pre-tournament friendlies in the United States, against Costa Rica and New Zealand, before kicking-off their tournament against Croatia on June 17. They will do so as one of the favourites to go all the way, with the pressure on Thomas Tuchel and his players to finally end 60 years of hurt.
Barcelona have reportedly put their pursuit of a permanent transfer for Marcus Rashford on ice as the club’s precarious economic situation resurfaces. Despite a verbal agreement on personal terms, the Catalan giants are reconsidering the feasibility of keeping the Manchester United loanee for the long-term.
Manchester United are prepared to entertain offers from Premier League rivals for Marcus Rashford if Barcelona fail to honour the permanent transfer agreement currently in place. The England international has spent the season on loan at Camp Nou, but uncertainty in Catalunya has opened the door for a dramatic return to English football with a different club.
Barcelona sporting director Deco has broken his silence regarding the club's plans for Marcus Rashford, who is currently on a season-long loan from Manchester United. Despite the forward's impressive form for the Catalan giants, the former Portugal international stressed that any final decision remains pending due to various internal and external pressures.
Manchester United are hoping to raise the price of Marcus Rashford's transfer to Barcelona as doubts are emerging over the initial deal struck with the Red Devils last summer. Rashford made a blistering start to his loan move after making the switch from Manchester to Spain last summer, raising the prospect of clinching a permanent move to Camp Nou for €30m (£26m/$34m).
Barcelona are exploring a creative second loan deal to retain Marcus Rashford as they struggle to trigger Manchester United's €30 million agreed permanent fee. The England international is reportedly desperate to stay in Catalonia after a career resurgence under Hansi Flick.