Opinion | Is Marcus Rashford the key to both clubs’ futures as Manchester United prepare for Barcelona Champions League test?

“Rashford and little else,” was the damning verdict from the respected Spanish journalist in the Old Trafford press box after 20 minutes of Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final between Manchester United and Barcelona when the Catalans were so dominant. The return is in Camp Nou on Tuesday, with favourites Barca holding a 1-0 lead and United hoping to do what they did against the odds at Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.

The assessment wasn’t entirely fair either. United improved after a poor start, other players performed well and Rashford, who wasn’t 100 per cent fit, posed danger but didn’t manage a shot on target. Nor did any of his teammates.

Rashford is respected in Catalonia and Barca want to sign him. The Catalans have done their due diligence, they’ve scouted him heavily and they like what they see.

They see the striker as just what they’re looking for – a young, fast and hugely talented footballer who can play in any of the front three positions. They also feel he can improve with better players around him at a club absolutely committed to attacking football.

Barca will invest heavily in the best young talent – see the fees for Ousame Dembele or the incoming Frenkie de Jong and, they hope, Matthias de Ligt. If they’re a success then they can stay or be sold for profit if they really insist on leaving, as Neymar did.