Marcus Rashford Wins Barcelona Member Vote for Permanent Transfer

‎Marcus Rashford has successfully passed a Barcelona member referendum, with the majority backing a permanent move for the England international following his loan switch from Manchester United. The forward joined the reigning La Liga champions during the summer after falling out of favour under United head coach Ruben Amorim, and he has since made a strong impression in Spain.

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‎Barcelona members have voted in favour of signing Marcus Rashford permanently after his impressive loan spell from Manchester United, while a separate poll casts doubt over Robert Lewandowski’s future.

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‎The 28-year-old has played a key role in Barcelona’s positive start to the campaign under Hansi Flick, registering six assists and adding two goals. After a brief setback earlier in the season, Barcelona took advantage of a dip in Real Madrid’s form to head into the winter break at the top of the La Liga table.

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‎A 2-0 away win against Villarreal last weekend stretched Barcelona’s winning streak to eight matches and preserved a four-point cushion at the summit. As domestic results continue to impress, club members have now expressed support for turning Rashford’s temporary stay into a permanent transfer.

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‎According to a poll conducted by Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo, 54.6% of Barcelona members surveyed are in favour of signing Rashford outright. Meanwhile, 35.6% are against keeping him long term, and 6.3% believe the club should wait until the end of the season before making a final decision on his future at Spotify Camp Nou.

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‎The outcome of the vote will come as encouragement for Rashford, who recently stated his desire to remain at the club. Speaking to Spanish outlet SPORT, the forward explained that staying at Barcelona is his ambition, though his primary focus remains on winning trophies.

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‎Rashford said that his aim is to continue at Barcelona, describing the club as a historic institution built for success. He stressed that his motivation comes from contributing to victories rather than securing his future, underlining his commitment to giving his best in training and matches.

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‎Reflecting on his adaptation to life in Spain, Rashford revealed that he has settled in smoothly both at the club and in the city. He noted that he felt welcomed from the moment he arrived and praised the support he has received from staff and teammates.

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‎The England forward also highlighted that his purpose at Barcelona is to help the team claim silverware. While last season was highly successful, he acknowledged how quickly circumstances can change in football and insisted his focus is on repeating those achievements.

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‎Rashford went on to describe Barcelona as the ideal environment for the next stage of his career, adding that he is fully concentrated on performing at his best each day and assisting the team in winning matches. He concluded by saying that his future will become clearer next summer.

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‎Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has also spoken positively about Rashford, praising his mentality and attitude. The German manager revealed that when he explained to Rashford why he had not started a particular match, the forward responded that no explanation was necessary as long as the team secured victory. Flick described this outlook as the right mindset and expressed satisfaction in having such an attitude within the squad.

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‎While the membership poll was favourable for Rashford, it painted a different picture for teammate Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker’s contract expires at the end of the season, although Barcelona hold an option to extend his deal by an additional year.

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‎In the same survey, 59.3% of members voted against extending Lewandowski’s stay, with only 31.6% supporting a renewal. A further 5.3% declined to give an opinion, while 3.6% said their decision would depend on the terms of any proposed new contract for the 37-year-old.

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‎The vote followed Lewandowski’s confirmation of an unusual request made by Barcelona during the closing stages of the 2022–23 La Liga campaign. With the league title already secured and the striker sitting on 23 goals, the club reportedly asked him not to score again to avoid triggering a €2.5 million bonus payment to former club Bayern Munich.

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‎Two additional league goals would have activated the clause, and amid ongoing financial difficulties, senior figures at Barcelona were keen to prevent further expenditure. Speaking to Polish journalist Bogdan Rymanowski, Lewandowski confirmed the story and acknowledged the circumstances surrounding the request.

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‎Lewandowski said he was aware of the club’s situation and respected those working at Barcelona, noting that several issues needed to be handled in the club’s best interests. He explained that the matter was purely financial rather than tactical, emphasising that the motivation was to save money during a challenging period.

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‎Although he accepted the reasoning, Lewandowski admitted the request left a lasting impression. He revealed that it stayed in his mind and made him question whether or not he should score, even though it did not ultimately change his approach on the pitch.