‎Marcus Rashford Backed to Overtake Lamine Yamal and Become Barcelona’s Star Player

‎Marcus Rashford has been tipped to dethrone Lamine Yamal as Barcelona’s standout performer after impressing during his loan spell in Spain. Dwight Yorke insists the England forward remains a “fantastic player” and believes he can carve out a lasting legacy at Camp Nou similar to some of the club’s greatest legends.

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Dwight Yorke believes Marcus Rashford can surpass Lamine Yamal at Barcelona and build a lasting legacy after an impressive loan spell in La Liga.

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‎While Rashford is not yet operating at the elite level associated with Barcelona’s most iconic figures, his time in Catalunya has been encouraging. Signs of a revival were evident during a loan stint at Aston Villa last season, where he began rediscovering confidence and form.

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‎With no reset available at Manchester United in the summer of 2025, the 28-year-old was pushed toward another fresh challenge. That decision led him away from familiar surroundings and into Spanish football, where he joined the likes of Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Pedri.

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‎Rashford’s output has backed up the optimism. He has contributed six goals and eight assists across 16 appearances for Barcelona, and expectations remain that the purchase option included in his loan deal will be activated. Yorke believes a permanent move would allow Rashford to grow even further.

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‎Speaking to Snabbare, the former Manchester United striker questioned why Barcelona have not already paid the £35 million ($46m) required to secure Rashford permanently. He praised the forward’s ability and expressed surprise at the delay.

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‎Yorke explained that Rashford’s struggles at United were rooted in unhappiness, arguing that even the most talented players suffer when uncomfortable in their environment. He credited Rashford for proving critics wrong and rediscovering enjoyment in his football at Barcelona.

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‎He emphasized that Rashford has always been a top-level player, stating that his talent never disappeared. According to Yorke, Rashford was the most gifted individual at United, but circumstances prevented him from performing at his best.

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‎Now settled and confident in Spain, Rashford is showing what he can deliver at peak level. Yorke believes the forward is beginning to fill the void left by Barcelona legends such as Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and even earlier icons like Romario.

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‎While Yorke acknowledged that Rashford is not yet in the same bracket as those names, he insisted that the opportunity exists to create his own identity in a Barcelona shirt. With limited competition beyond Lamine Yamal, Rashford has a genuine chance to establish himself as the team’s leading figure.

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‎Yorke added that Yamal is still developing, whereas Rashford is currently at his peak. He believes the England international has the ability to become Barcelona’s number one player, even ahead of the teenage sensation, provided he truly commits to that ambition.

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‎Manchester United may now be questioning their handling of Rashford, especially after seeing several former players thrive elsewhere. Antony and Alejandro Garnacho have shown improvement away from Old Trafford, while Scott McTominay has gone on to win a Serie A title with Napoli.

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‎There has been speculation about United attempting to bring McTominay back, but Yorke suggested such a move would be costly and difficult to justify. He added that McTominay would not resolve United’s issues in the defensive midfield role and would likely be misused further forward.

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‎Yorke concluded that hindsight often makes situations clearer, but emphasized that returning to United would not necessarily benefit McTominay, just as Rashford’s best path forward may lie away from Manchester.