giving

“He’s unbelievable. He has extra potential he can present us.”

That was Hansi Flick’s verdict on Marcus Rashford in September, earlier than the ahead’s return to England for his first Champions League look with Barcelona.

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The top coach’s confidence appeared to encourage Rashford. He scored his first two targets for the Catalan giants and led them to a 2-1 victory in opposition to Newcastle at St James’ Park.

It was the breakthrough Rashford had been ready for since he joined Barcelona in July – a mortgage transfer from Manchester United that raised a number of questions.

What function would he play at Barcelona? Would he earn the belief of Flick? Would Barcelona make his transfer everlasting?

With the season paused for its second worldwide break, Rashford has featured in 10 matches for Barcelona, and the early indications are promising.

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Past the numbers, Rashford is successful the help of Barcelona followers.

Some say it is too early to entry his efficiency whereas others have known as him a “nice shock”.

“You’ll be able to inform that little by little, he’s gaining extra confidence,” mentioned Alejandro, a life-long fan. “He is been giving us numerous pleasure. We are able to see that he is actually hungry to succeed, so, in the meanwhile, all of the followers and the entire workforce help him.”

One other fan, Pablo, mentioned he thinks Rashford can “exceed the expectations that many followers had for him”.

Underwhelming first performances

When Rashford made his La Liga debut from the bench on 16 August, in a 3-0 win away to Mallorca, expectations had been modest.

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He arrived at Barcelona after falling out of favour at United, and as primarily the third-choice candidate for the attacking slot his membership wished to strengthen.

The membership wished to signal a ahead who might help Raphinha on the left wing and add depth of their assault.

They took curiosity within the 27-year-old after failing to land their different choices, Athletic Membership’s Nico Williams and Luis Diaz, who was nonetheless with Liverpool on the time.

Rashford’s league debut was unremarkable and his subsequent two Spanish league fixtures had been additionally uneventful, with the ahead enjoying not more than 45 minutes in every.

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Spanish media on the time described Rashford as ‘a fuego lento’, a ‘slow-burner’, saying his finest performances had been in pre-season, in opposition to simple opponents and with no aggressive strain.

Nonetheless, his objective for England of their 5-0 win in opposition to Serbia within the World Cup qualifiers in early September began a sequence of extra impactful performances.

Rashford’s affect will increase

Accidents to Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski have opened the door for Rashford’s resurgence, giving him an prolonged run in Flick’s beginning XI, the place his affect on Barcelona’s assault has steadily grown.

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He has began in six of the previous seven matches throughout all competitions. The one time he did not begin, in opposition to Getafe, was as a result of he arrived late to the workforce’s morning assembly, though he did play all the second half.

Barcelona sources mentioned that Rashford was two minutes late, prompting Flick to implement his strict coverage of excluding gamers from the beginning line-up if they’re late to coaching or workforce conferences.

It was the one match out of the final seven for Barcelona the place Rashford hasn’t been straight concerned in a objective, both by way of scoring or helping.

Some extent to show

His progress has drawn admiration. It began with a primary help in opposition to Valencia, was adopted by the 2 Champions League targets at Newcastle, and continued with assists in opposition to Oviedo and Actual Sociedad in La Liga, and Paris St-Germain within the Champions League.

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In his ultimate match earlier than the second worldwide break, Rashford scored his first La Liga objective, albeit a comfort in Barcelona’s 4-1 loss to Sevilla.

Two of his assists have come from nook kicks – an space the place Barcelona had beforehand lacked menace. Spanish media highlighted his contribution. As one report famous: “Along with his exact supply, Barca has discovered a brand new weapon on set-pieces.”

Rashford’s standout Champions League efficiency in opposition to Newcastle drew specific reward from Flick.

“He is a implausible participant, a fantastic expertise and his ending is unimaginable,” mentioned the previous Bayern Munich and Germany boss.

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“For a striker, it is at all times nice to attain targets and so I am actually completely happy for him. Earlier than the beginning of the season, [sporting director] Deco and I mentioned we would have liked a participant like him.”

Barcelona’s main objective contributor

Rashford has extra objective involvements than some other Barcelona participant throughout all competitions this season, together with his three targets and 4 assists.

Ferran Torres has scored 5 targets and has one help, so has six involvements, whereas Lamine Yamal has scored twice and added three assists, however the 18-year-old Ballon d’Or runner-up has missed 4 matches due to an damage he sustained within the September worldwide break.

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Rashford has recorded the joint-most photographs (27) and photographs on track (11) and probably the most touches within the opposition field (69) amongst Barcelona gamers. He additionally ranks second for possibilities created (18) behind Pedri (24).

Barcelona’s web site revealed a narrative in reward of Rashford in early October, lauding his “effort and consistency” and declaring: “Unbelievable numbers for a newcomer, exhibiting that the Englishman has arrived in Barcelona intent on leaving his mark. And he’s succeeding.”

Since first pulling on the shirt, Rashford has contributed to a objective for Barcelona each 88 minutes.

This ranks him fifth amongst gamers in La Liga for minutes per objective involvement, behind solely Kylian Mbappe, Julian Alvarez, Vinicius Junior and Alvaro Garcia.

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It’s simple to miss that within the 2022-23 season, Rashford scored over 30 targets for Manchester United and was the sixth prime scorer within the Premier League. That marketing campaign highlighted what Rashford is able to with confidence and common enjoying time, and Barcelona are hoping the outdated magic is returning.

Will Rashford signal completely?

Rashford scored two second-half targets for Barcelona in opposition to Newcastle at St James’ Park [Getty Images]

Rashford arrived in Barcelona decided to make his mark and launch a optimistic new chapter in an up-and-down profession.

The membership have the choice of signing him on a everlasting foundation for £30.3m (35m euros) in 2026, however that’s one thing that Deco instructed Spanish media would solely be mentioned at a later date.

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“It is too early to speak about selections for subsequent season however what issues is that we’re proud of him,” the director of soccer mentioned.

This was reiterated by one other supply on the membership, who mentioned: “We’re all delighted and thrilled with him and his efficiency, Deco, Flick, and his team-mates. Marcus can also be proud of us, together with his team-mates and with town of Barcelona.

“It is apparent that if he continues to develop like this, there’s an excellent probability that this would be the case. However we’re solely initially of the season and it is nonetheless too early to speak about this.”

Barcelona have massive fixtures to return earlier than the subsequent spherical of worldwide matches, together with a derby in opposition to Girona, Champions League video games in opposition to Olympiacos and Membership Brugge, and the Clasico in opposition to Actual Madrid on the Bernabeu.

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Off the again of successive defeats by Paris St-Germain and Sevilla, and with Raphinha getting back from damage, Spanish media recommend Flick will likely be making some tactical modifications.

For Rashford, it presents a possibility to adapt and reveal his versatility as his quest continues for a constant beginning function.

He wished this transfer in January, needed to wait till the summer season, and earlier than he had kicked a ball was fast to say Barcelona “looks like residence”. The onus is now on him to ensure it stays that manner.