Barca lure Man Utd striker Rashford after holding talks with his brother

English forward Marcus Rashford has become a key target for FC Barcelona during this winter transfer window.

After managing to comply with LaLiga’s 1-1 rule, the Catalan club is looking to strengthen Hansi Flick’s attack, and Rashford has once again appeared on their radar.

This is not the first time Barcelona has shown interest in Rashford. In 2019, the forward came very close to joining Camp Nou.

At the time, the club was searching for a replacement for Luis Suárez after Antoine Griezmann had rejected a move to the Catalan side.

Rashford, just 21 years old, was already making waves at Manchester United and looked set to become a major figure in English football.

Barcelona’s then-sporting director, Pep Segura, became aware of Rashford’s hesitation to renew his contract with United, which was set to expire in 2020.

Segura held three meetings with Rashford’s representatives in Barcelona, including his agent and family members, to present the club’s project.

The plan was clear: sign a young, versatile forward capable of playing both on the wing and centrally, who would grow in the shadow of Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez in an attack that also featured Dembélé.

Barcelona secured a verbal commitment from Rashford’s agent that the player would not renew his contract with Manchester United, aiming to force his departure in the summer of 2019 or allow him to arrive on a free transfer in 2020.

However, Rashford hesitated to make the move. He feared a negative reaction from Old Trafford fans and didn’t want to leave on bad terms with the club where he had developed.

When Manchester United offered him a lucrative new contract to ensure his stay, Rashford chose to accept it. In the summer of 2019, United announced Rashford’s renewal until 2024, a deal that was later extended to 2028.

Instead of Rashford, Barcelona ended up signing Antoine Griezmann for €120 million in the summer of 2019.

Although the Frenchman arrived with high expectations, Rashford’s decision to remain at Manchester United prevented the Camp Nou from acquiring a forward who could have ushered in a new era in their attacking line.

Now, with the winter transfer window open, Barcelona’s interest in Rashford has resurfaced. Time will tell if this time the English forward decides to swap Old Trafford for Camp Nou.