Marcus Rashford has given Barcelona enough to think about. He has 14 goals and 14 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions, Frenkie de Jong has already said he would be delighted if Rashford stays, and the £26million option in the loan agreement is still sitting there.

Why Barcelona have a real decision to make

De Jong did not sound like a player trying to keep the conversation polite. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, he said Rashford has given Barcelona “goals, assists, attacking runs” and added, “I’d be delighted if he stays with us.” He also said Rashford arrived “full of enthusiasm” and that “it was clear he wanted to stay.”

That backing matters because the numbers are already substantial. Rashford's 14 goals and 14 assists have come over 48 appearances, so this is not a tiny sample. He has also scored 8 La Liga goals and 5 in the Champions League, which at least explains why Barcelona have not rushed to close the door on a permanent move.

What Barcelona have not done yet is trigger the £26million option. The club remain at the point of weighing it up, not announcing it.

Why the future is still unresolved

The other layer is Rashford's own message. His Instagram story thanked Unai Emery, Hansi Flick, Thomas Tuchel, Aston Villa, Barcelona and England, with Manchester United left out. That omission has been read by some as a pointed one, even if the alternative view is that it was simply a list of the people and clubs he chose to thank after a season that has taken him in a very different direction.

Either way, the future is not settled. Manchester United are still part of the story because the loan deal has not been turned into a permanent transfer, and the public signals around Rashford now lean much more towards Barcelona than back home.

The key point is simple enough: Barcelona have a forward who has produced 14 goals and 14 assists in 48 games, and De Jong has made the case for keeping him. The club still have to make the call on the £26million option, and until they do, Rashford's next step remains open.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 6 outlets. How we work →