Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has passed his medical at Barcelona ahead of a season-long loan move to the Spanish giants.
The 27-year-old England international arrived in Catalonia on Sunday night after receiving clearance from United to finalise the transfer arrangements. He was welcomed at Barcelona’s training ground on Monday morning by manager Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco.
Negotiations between the two clubs progressed rapidly over the past week, culminating in an agreement in principle over the weekend. As part of the loan deal, Barcelona will cover Rashford’s wages for the duration of his stay, following the player’s decision to accept a 25% pay cut — a move that will save United approximately £14 million.
The agreement also includes an option for Barcelona to make the transfer permanent next summer for a fee of €35 million (£30.3 million).
Rashford is expected to be officially unveiled on Wednesday and could join Barcelona’s pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea, which kicks off on Thursday. The club is still working on registering him for La Liga competition, though he will be allowed to train with the team and participate in non-competitive fixtures in the meantime.
Should the move be finalised in time, Rashford may line up against his former Manchester United teammate Jesse Lingard, who now plays for K League side FC Seoul. The two sides are scheduled to face off on July 31.
This marks Rashford’s second consecutive loan spell, following a six-month stint at Aston Villa during the second half of last season. The forward had reportedly been eyeing a move to Barcelona since December, when he hinted at seeking a new challenge after being dropped by United manager Ruben Amorim.
