Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has hailed ‘absolute professional’ Marcus Rashford, who he believes to have hit his ‘best form’ ahead of the defending La Liga champions hosting Osasuna on Saturday.
The Catalans took Rashford from Ruben Amorim’s ‘bomb squad’ of unwanted players at Manchester United to the Nou Camp on loan last summer.
The arrangement, which expires on June 30, 2026, reportedly comes with an option to buy the England international outright for around £26 million.
With 17 goal contributions (six goals and 11 assists) across 21 appearances in all competitions, the 28-year-old is stating a strong case for President Joan Laporta and Sporting Director Deco to make the move permanent ahead of next season if they can find the money.
Judging by his comments on Friday, Flick would endorse such a transfer market decision and only had kind words to say about his forward ahead of a key clash with Osasuna which SPORT suggested Rashford should start in as a reward for his second half form as a substitute.
As Flick pointed out, though, the Mancunian is unlikely to kick up a stink if benched in favour of positonal rivals such as Raphinha or Ferran Torres on his preferred left wing, if not Robert Lewandowski as the central striker.
‘When he’s on the bench it also shows that we have an excellent team. In this position we have excellent players, it’s like that but what I can say is that he’s an absolute professional player,’ Flick explained.
‘His atttitude and his mentality is great. I think in the beginning he had to adapt a little bit, but now he’s at his best level.’
Flick also shed light on a conversation between the manager and his player in the build up to a Champions League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday.
With Barca facing three defeats on the continent in the face while trailing 1-0, Rashford came on at half time to provide the assist for the first of Jules Kounde’s two goals which gave the home team a much-needed win.
‘I speak with the players who aren’t playing and tell them why, and what he said to me the last day (against Frankfurt)… in England they say ‘boss’ (but) in Spain you say ‘mister’… (he said:) ‘You don’t have to tell me this. It’s only about the team. We have to win the three points and nothing else. It’s what important’.
‘It’s the right attitude and you can see his mentality. He’s here and I’m really happy that he’s here,’ Flick added.
Rashford can cap off a great week in Catalonia, which, in addition to his Frankfurt exploits, saw him continue his humanitarian work with the club’s Foundation visiting vulnerable children, by being key against Osasuna.
As Madrid don’t play until Sunday night away at Alaves, Barca could head seven points clear in the defence of their La Liga title after previously trailing an eternal by five following the chastening 2-1 October loss in El Clasico.
Los Blancos’ dip has come about thanks to a series of draws and defeats which have piled the pressure on Flick’s opposite number Xabi Alonso.
But the German isn’t interested in what is happening in the Spanish capital, nor does he want to entertain talk of the title race being over before 2025 has drawn to a close because his men must improve too.
‘Pfft. There’s a long long way to go,’ Flick scoffed. ‘I always say this. Now we’re still in December and there are many games to play.
‘So for us it’s always important to look at ourselves (and not others). We have the quality, we can win three points against any team and it’s what we want to do. But again, we have so many things that we can do better (with), and we want to work on this.
‘There’s nothing about looking at the table and saying: “We are happy to be first”. No. I don’t think it’s the right attitude when you do this. Just focus on (the next game) because there’s a long way to go. If at the end of the season we’re in this position then we deserve it. But for now, there’s a long way (to go).’
Flick, who routinely claims to have been in bed when his team’s Clasico rivals play their league games often screened late on Saturday or Sunday evening in Spain, brushed off a direct question about Alonso’s lot by stating: ‘We don’t focus on Real Madrid’.
‘We only focus on ourselves. We have a lot to do with our own situation, so 100% only Barca,’ Flick concluded.
