Marcus Rashford’s arrival would certainly bolster Barcelona’s attack, providing Hansi Flick with greater tactical flexibility.
After long-drawn negotiations with Manchester United, Barcelona finally struck a deal to bring Marcus Rashford to the club. They have secured his services on a season-long loan, with an option to buy for around €30 million.
It is a significant boost for the Catalan giants, who have been searching for a new left-winger since the start of the summer. For Rashford, it is also a welcome relief from his Old Trafford nightmare, even if only temporarily. More importantly, he now gets to realise his dream of playing for Barcelona.
While the Catalan giants had other priorities in Nico Williams and Luis Diaz, both moves proved to be out of reach. As a result, they have turned to the English international, who appears to be a much more cost-effective option, despite the club agreeing to cover his full wages.
Due to their ongoing financial crisis, Barcelona are currently unable to register Marcus Rashford for La Liga, but the Blaugrana remain confident it will be resolved in time for the new season.
Hansi Flick already had one of the most potent attacks in Europe last season, with Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Lamine Yamal leading the line, and Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez, and Ferran Torres offering vital support. Barcelona scored 102 goals in their 38 league outings, and Rashford’s arrival should only make them stronger.
The English international has not been in the best form recently, but his loan spell at Aston Villa during the second half of last season helped him regain confidence. He is slowly working his way back to top form, and Flick could certainly benefit from his presence. Here are three ways Barcelona could line up with Marcus Rashford in their starting XI.
The Catalan giants are expected to stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation that did wonders for them last season, and Rashford will feature on the left flank on the majority of the occasions. At times, he could also be leading the line, his presence will give Flick a lot of freedom on how he chooses to use Raphinha, Lewandowski and Yamal.
With Rashford on the left & Raphinha as 10
While Raphinha excelled on the left flank last season and prefers playing on the right, the Brazilian is more than capable of operating as a number ten. Beyond his goalscoring threat and exceptional dribbling ability, the former Leeds United star possesses great vision and thrives in tight spaces.
With Marcus Rashford occupying the left-wing position, Barcelona will retain a similar threat out wide, thanks to the Englishman’s pace and eye for goal. The biggest advantage of having Rashford out wide is that it allows Hansi Flick to deploy Raphinha centrally as the number ten.
Although Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez are also options for that role, Raphinha’s recent form and unique skill set could make Barcelona even more dangerous in the final third while allowing Flick to accommodate all his productive attackers. He enjoys linking up with fellow forwards.
Raphinha’s connection with Yamal proved highly effective last season, and in a central role, the duo could combine even more frequently. Operating in the middle, Raphinha could create numerous chances for those around him while still scoring goals himself.
Rashford as the number nine
While Rashford prefers playing out wide on the left, and that is when he is at his best, the 27-year-old has often been deployed as a number nine, and he has done a decent job in that role. Barcelona already have veteran striker Robert Lewandowski to lead the line, but they do need an ideal cover for him.
The Polish international was on fire for the Catalan giants last season as he bagged 42 goals and three assists in 52 games. But since he is 36, Flick will certainly have to manage his game time and ensure he is 100% for all the big games.
While Ferran Torres proved to be an ideal cover for him last season, he does not have a similar profile to that of Lewandowski. Torres likes to drop deep, drift out wide and link up with his teammates, while the former Bayern Munich star has a strong physical presence and is a proper out-and-out striker.
Marcus Rashford might not be the best number nine, but he certainly has similar qualities to those of Lewandowski, especially to lead the line for Barcelona. With him as the striker and Raphinha and Yamal on the flanks, the Catalan giants will still have a formidable front three without the Polish international.
Rashford on the left & Raphinha on the right
Following the emergence of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha played the majority of his games on the left flank last season. With Barcelona lacking quality on that side, the Brazilian international’s exceptional performances proved to be a vital lifeline.
Now, with Marcus Rashford’s arrival, Barcelona finally have a world-class option on the left. While Flick could look to deploy Raphinha in the number ten role, the former Leeds United winger will also have opportunities to feature in his preferred right-wing position.
Yamal will remain the go-to man on the right, but given that he is only 18, Flick will be mindful of managing his minutes to avoid burnout from playing every three days. The ability to rotate Raphinha on the right and Rashford on the left gives Barcelona valuable depth and ensures Yamal gets the necessary rest.
Apart from Raphinha, Lewandowski, Rashford, and Yamal, the Catalan giants also boast top-quality forwards in Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, and Fermin Lopez, giving Flick a great deal of tactical flexibility. He now appears to have a well-rounded, versatile attack, which could help him build on the promising start he made last season.