Marcus Rashford’s sparkling form at the start of the 2025-2026 season has opened an unexpected debate in Catalonia. The England international, on loan from Manchester United, has found a level that we haven’t seen in a long time, to the point of shaking up certain established hierarchies. While Lamine Yamal is going through a complicated period, marked by repeated physical glitches, a surprised voice from the world of football has relaunched an idea which is already making people cringe within Barça.
An exit from a former great Manchester United scorer
This judgment, which affirms that Rashford could establish himself as Barça’s true offensive reference, does not come from just anyone. It is Dwight Yorke, former Manchester United striker and figure of the 1999 hat-trick, who today believes that the Englishman is “at the peak of his career” and capable of “to overtake Yamal in sporting importance”. According to him, the young Spanish prodigy remains “in development phase”where Rashford, already decisive on several occasions this season, has an immediate advantage linked to his experience and his current performance. An analysis which inevitably shakes Barça, accustomed to considering Yamal as the natural heir to its tradition of precocious talents.
Under Hansi Flick, Rashford has regained efficiency and confidence, with six goals and nine assists in sixteen appearances. He took advantage of successive injuries to Raphinha and Yamal to establish himself permanently in the eleven, and above all he demonstrated that he could play the role of versatile attacker that Barça was looking for. His rapid adaptation, combined with his clear desire to leave Manchester United, reinforces the idea that he could become a pillar of the Catalan project if a permanent transfer materializes next summer.
A debate fueled by Yamal’s absences
The contrast with the start of the Yamal season fuels this debate. The young international suffered a series of physical problems, missing several important matches. His talent is not called into question, but his availability raises questions, especially since Flick relies heavily on continuity and the form of the moment. In this context, Rashford appears today as a reliable, efficient and above all full of confidence element, far from the image of a player for whom Barcelona would be “too big”.
It remains to be seen whether this dynamic will hold over time. Barça, which claims via Deco to wait until the summer to decide on a possible transfer, is observing the situation with caution. But Yorke’s statement risks continuing to fuel discussions: can Rashford really become essential in a club where everyone was betting on Yamal? One certainty: the terrain will decide, and this unexpected competition could well reshape the Catalan offensive landscape in the coming months.
