Barcelona legend Patrick Kluivert has opined that the La Liga heavyweights should make a move for Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford.
In an interview with Sport360°, Patrick Kluivert has reckoned that Marcus Rashford is the “best” candidate to bolster the attacking department at Barcelona. The Manchester United forward has previously been linked with the La Liga champions.
Marcus Rashford has seen his stock skyrocket since producing a stunning match winning performance on debut against Midtjylland. Now the first-choice striker at Old Trafford upon the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the interim manager, the player has been going from strength to strength in the first-team setup at the Premier League club.
Poised for his most fruitful season at Manchester United, the 21-year-old already has an impressive record of 10 goals and 7 assists in 30 appearances across all competitions. But, his fine run of form has reportedly attracted the interest of a number of clubs, with Barcelona also briefly being linked.
But, if Barcelona legend Patrick Kluivert, now the assistant manager of the Cameroon national team, is paid heed to, the Blaugrana might well launch the offensive for the Manchester United forward.
“I like Marcus Rashford, a lot. It will be really difficult to get him over. But he is a good player. I don’t see a lot of players who can play in Barcelona. There is not a lot. Maybe some players who can play in La Liga, young players. But for me, I think the best one is Marcus Rashford.”
In recent seasons, Luis Suarez has shown that age might be catching up to him, even though he remains one of the most prolific players in Spain. But, with the Uruguayan now in his thirties, and on-loan striker Kevin-Prince Boateng the only viable alternative to him, it will not be surprising if Barcelona start laying down the succession plan for the 32-year-old.
When asked if the Manchester United academy graduate has got what it takes to succeed at Barcelona, Kluivert said: “I think so. He has got the skills, the attitude, he’s quick, he’s fast, he can score goals. He is not always in the first XI at Manchester United and maybe he wants to change club. So why not?”
Kluivert’s final statement does not make a great deal of sense, at least as far as evidence from recent weeks is concerned. Rashford is now the undisputed first-choice striker at Manchester United, having started seven of the 10 games under Solskjaer as the focal point of attack.
His record in these games is nothing short of impressive, with the 21-year-old amassing 6 goals and 2 assists in these games. Manchester United are also reportedly eager to tie Rashford down to a bumper new deal in the hopes that the English forward will rebuff suitors like Barcelona.
If widespread reports are to be believed, the player is also in favour of staying put at Old Trafford, which would likely mean that Barcelona will not swoop him away from Manchester United, although it remains to be seen if they heed Kluivert’s advice and launch the offensive for him.