The Athletic confirms there is no financial obligation tied to Rashford’s loan
The loan transfer of Marcus Rashford from Manchester United to FC Barcelona was one of the biggest surprises of the summer. The English forward joined Barça on a season-long loan, with an option to buy for €30 million. Early reports from training sessions described him as highly motivated and in top physical shape.
However, shortly after the move was officially announced, rumors surfaced suggesting that the deal included a penalty clause. Allegedly, Barcelona would be required to pay €5 million to Manchester United if they opted not to activate the buy clause.
But according to The Athletic, these claims are untrue.
“There is no such penalty clause in the agreement between Barcelona and Manchester United,”
the outlet reported, citing internal sources.
This means Barcelona will face no financial consequences if they decide not to make Rashford’s move permanent at the end of the 2025/26 season.
No Precedent in Rashford Deal
While Manchester United has included such clauses in the past—notably in Jadon Sancho’s loan to Chelsea—this is not the case with Rashford. The agreement only includes a non-mandatory purchase option, which gives Barça flexibility depending on the player’s performance and fit under Hansi Flick’s system.
For Barcelona, this is positive news:
It reduces financial risk if Rashford fails to meet expectations or doesn’t integrate well into the squad over the course of the season.
