Marcus Rashford is preparing for another fresh start. Still a Manchester United player in name, it’s not Aston Villa this time but one of the most prestigious centers of all: Barcelona. Rashford joins Barça on a season-long loan, accepting a salary cut according to recent reports, with the Catalans having the option to buy him after a year. €30 million ($35 million) to €35 million ($41 million) is the touted price once the experiment concludes next summer.

Rashford will be among the highest earners in La Liga, even with the lower weekly wage and no guarantee of playing a starring role at Barcelona. On the surface, Barça is taking on a 27-year-old attacker who’s chalked up 138 goals in 436 showings over a decade at United. And someone who’s performed reasonably well in a Villa jersey since fading in Manchester.

The backdrop goes a little deeper, though. The England international is a threat running in behind and taking on defenders when on song. However, Rashford falling out of favor with United coach Ruben Amorim, who previously implied the forward was not giving maximum effort, and his occasional nights out midseason have raised some doubts regarding his level of soccer professionalism.

As such, for all the anticipation in Barcelona circles—illustrated by a Rashford mural welcoming its first English import since hit striker Gary Lineker—many in the U.K. are framing the move as a final shot at redemption. Does the Rashford of late deserve this transfer? Is this his last chance to live up to his potential (whatever potential even means as a concept)? Much of the narrative is down to Rashford having the talent in the first place—and therefore arrives with a dash of harshness.

A Rashford Renaissance Won’t Come Easy At Barcelona

If Rashford is to thrive at Barcelona, he will need to work his socks off. Barça’s joys in 2024/25 were as much down to players grafting tirelessly for the team as showing their quality on the ball. Emblematic of this culture was Pedri (Spanish)—calculated to have run the most (354 kilometers) and recovered possession more than anyone (211 times) by the last knockings of the campaign.

As well as getting used to head coach Hansi Flick’s methods, there’s a sense that Rashford needs first to find himself as a player. His reputation for tackling food poverty and encouraging young people to read speaks of an athlete who cares deeply about others. On the field, rightly or wrongly, he hasn’t always exuded a burning love for the game. Is the Barcelona environment perfect for reigniting that spark?

History suggests it could be, at least in terms of clubs like Real Betis and Napoli already profiting from the Old Trafford brain drain by snatching success stories in the form of Antony and Scott McTominay. Rashford was not Barça’s first-choice target for the winger position, their ambitions to sign Luis Díaz (Liverpool) and Nico Williams (Athletic Club) hitting a dead end. However, if used in the right moments and as a foil for 36-year-old Robert Lewandowski in the number nine position, he could prove an astute acquisition. If not another Lineker.

Better still, Rashford rejuvenated and impressing regularly at Barcelona would mark one of the smartest pieces of business concluded this transfer window. It depends on how forcefully Rashford grabs the opportunity. There’s no certainty he will take it with both hands.