Gary Lineker, the English great, says all players who left Old Trafford are doing well.
There have been strong rumors for some time that Marcus Rashford will join Barcelona on loan from Manchester United. Lineker, a former striker for the La Liga club and a fellow Englishman, believes Rashford will adapt well and perform strongly in Spain.
According to various media reports, Rashford is set to move to Barcelona on a one-season loan, with an option for the club to sign him permanently after that. It’s said Barcelona will cover his full salary during the loan period, which is around €350,000 per week.
After a tough period at Manchester United, many see this move to Barcelona as a bold attempt by Rashford to revive his career. Lineker, who played for Barcelona in the late 1980s, expressed hope on Sky Sports Tuesday that Rashford will succeed at the club.
“He will do well. It seems like he is in a good mental state. In my opinion, it’s a fantastic challenge for him. They have some incredible players. They are a great team, but they play a lot of matches.”
Barcelona’s attack is currently strong with the likes of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski. Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo are also part of the squad. Still, Lineker sees a need for depth in attack. Though he acknowledges Lewandowski remains effective, he also points out the striker’s age.
“They have three established players in attack — Raphinha, Lewandowski, and Yamal. But they can’t play all three in every match. Lewandowski is nearly past his peak. What he’s doing at his age is exceptional. It will be a good deal for Barcelona. If Marcus can show his best, it will be amazing.”
After falling out of favor under coach Rúben Amorim at Old Trafford, Rashford joined Aston Villa on loan in February for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. In 17 appearances for Villa across all competitions, he scored 4 goals and provided 6 assists.
Lineker raised questions about Manchester United’s culture, noting that all players who have left the club are doing well elsewhere.
“Look at the players who have left Manchester United. They’ve done incredibly well everywhere. So there must be something wrong at Manchester United. Players who leave usually succeed. He (Rashford) was great at Villa, and he can do the same at Barcelona. I hope that happens.”