Barcelona don waste no time to set up for next season. Just days after La Liga finish for 2025–26, the club don strike agreement with Newcastle United for Anthony Gordon. Personal terms no be problem, only small formalities remain.
One big consequence of this transfer na wetin go happen to Marcus Rashford. The Manchester United forward spend 2025–26 on loan with Barcelona and hope the club go use buy option wey dey original agreement. That option price am below market value. But Barcelona don long dey hesitate to do that.
Now, instead of paying less for Rashford, Barcelona go spend more than double the money on Gordon. The two players dey same position. This decision take many fans by surprise.
Gordon look well suited to more technical European-style soccer. This season, he rack up 12 goal involvements in 12 Champions League matches. Compare to only eight in 26 Premier League games. The Liverpool-born star also score against Barcelona for Champions League league phase, one of three appearances against the club wey he go join now.
But there be financial logic behind the Gordon transfer. The key na amortization—spreading the cost of signing and paying salary over the full contract term. Barcelona fit spend just $35 million to sign Rashford permanent. But higher annual salary and shorter contract no go make the 28-year-old significantly cheaper overall.
The Gordon deal go pay am slightly less than Rashford believed to dey earn during the loan. The transfer fee also spread over two years more. For that reason, Rashford reportedly hope Barcelona go offer am five-year contract on less money instead. If that lower the annual expense for the club, he fit stay.
As things stand, the annual outlay no go much different. But for Gordon, Barcelona get similar player wey more than three years younger, with room to improve. At almost 29, Rashford maybe no go get better than he dey now. The Catalans fit also resell Gordon in three or four years. Investment for Rashford now fit almost completely lost by 2029.
Barcelona signing Rashford no don formally ruled out yet. The player reportedly dey hold on to hope until time when that be the case. But one anonymous club official quote by The Athletic say the deal now “more complicated” than before Gordon happen.
Rashford options now be reintegration at Manchester United, wey get call for left forward, or move to new club. Either for England or abroad for second time. Case fit make for Aston Villa, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Bayern Munich and AC Milan.
