Rio Ferdinand believes Marcus Rashford can succeed at Barcelona but warns the Manchester United wantaway that he may not start many games for his new club.
Having been banished from the first-team by Ruben Amorim in December, Rashford is now close to securing a permanent exit from his boyhood club.
It was reported over the weekend that Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign the England international on loan with an option to buy, which if taken up would end his 20-year stay at Old Trafford.
Fabrizio Romano claims that the 27-year-old has taken a minor paycut to facilitate the move, with Barcelona covering his entire salary, while the buy out clause is worth a €30million (£26m).
Rashford has spoken of his dream to play alongside wonderkid Lamine Yamal but there is no clear path into Barcelona’s starting XI.
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The forward could replace legendary striker Robert Lewandowski, who turns 37 later this summer, but he’s still in top form after scoring 42 goals last season.
Rashford’s best position has been on the left-side of attack but he will struggle to displace Ballon d’Or frontrunner Raphinha, who recorded a staggering 59 goal contributions in 57 appearances.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, United legend Ferdinand believes Rashford needs to alter his game in order to show his quality in La Liga, saying: ‘Where’s he going to play? He’s got to fight his way into this team.
‘A lot of people, including myself, didn’t think this opportunity at Barcelona would actually be there for Marcus Rashford, given what he’s produced over the last two years.
‘He hasn’t produced the Marcus Rashford that we first saw running in behind, aggressive runs, finishing things, shooting from crazy angles, assisting goals etc.
‘His game has changed, wanting to dribble with the ball more. But what made him hard to play against that he was willing to run behind. He’s magic at that when he gets that right and when he’s consistent with that.
‘He could be that difference for this Barcelona team. Raphinha doesn’t mind running in behind, but he does like it to feet. Lamine Yamal would rather get it to feet and dribble. And Lewandowski is not someone who can run in behind as much anymore. He’s more of a target man, great finisher.
Ferdinand added that while Rashford may struggle to break into the starting XI, he can have a lot of success as an impact substitute for manager Hansi Flick.
‘Where he fits in won’t be is he going to start, it’s what’s the difference that he makes? I think Flick will be wanting that as well, “Give us something different to what we’ve already got”.
‘Raphinha on the left, Lewandowski up front, Lamine Yamal on the right. He doesn’t automatically start in this team, but he could go in there and be a huge impact and then get games off the back of that impact.
‘But Marcus doesn’t have to go in there and displace anybody. He’s got to go in there and add value to this team. Take them from where they finished last season, where they won the league, got to the semi-finals of the Champions League and go one better.’
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