Marcus Rashford hinted at future partnership with Lamine Yamal before completing Barcelona move
Marcus Rashford’s surprise move to FC Barcelona has caught fans off guard, as the Spanish giants managed to meet the forward’s financial demands in a deal that brings him on loan for the 2025–26 season. Interestingly, the England international may have teased a future partnership with rising star Lamine Yamal before the transfer was finalized.
Barcelona have become one of the most exciting teams in Europe under Hansi Flick, who led the club to three trophies in his debut season. Lamine Yamal was a breakout star, dazzling with his flair and maturity. However, the left wing remained a weak spot in the squad, prompting Barca to seek reinforcements—Rashford, one of the top targets, ultimately became the marquee signing.
Before sealing the move, Rashford was in Marbella, Spain, where he spoke with popular Spanish YouTuber xBuyer. During their conversation, he praised Yamal’s meteoric rise: “It’s difficult to put into words what he’s doing, because he’s not supposed to be doing that—at 16, 17 years old. I made my debut at 18. He’s playing at 17 at the highest level. I don’t think we’ve seen it before.”
When xBuyer noted that Yamal sees this level of performance as “normal,” Rashford didn’t hesitate to applaud the young winger’s mindset. “That alone is a skill, to have that mentality is a skill... Not only now, because he’ll keep improving so, in three years time, we don’t know what we’re going to say about him,” he stated.
Asked if he would like to play alongside Yamal, Rashford offered a telling response: “Yes, for sure. Everyone in the world wants to play with the best. So, hopefully. We’ll see.” It now seems that either Rashford had insight into the pending move—or he manifested it.
Rashford arrived in Barcelona on Sunday night via private jet, with medical tests set for Monday and his official unveiling expected on Tuesday. Just days after his remarks in Spain, the 27-year-old is now poised to share the pitch with one of soccer’s brightest young stars.
Rashford backs Yamal for Ballon d’Or
After a breakout season with both Barcelona and the Spanish national team, Lamine Yamal has emerged as a serious contender for the 2025 Ballon d’Or—alongside PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé. But for Rashford, Yamal’s impact during the 2024–25 campaign puts him ahead of the pack.
“It depends on how they look at it,” Rashford said when asked who deserves the award. “If you look at it just on football ability, I think he has to win. But then if you look at Dembélé and the Champions League… It depends on how you see it. I wouldn’t be disappointed if either of them won.”