logo
Rashford closing in on Barcelona move: reports

Rashford closing in on Barcelona move: reports

The Citizen3 days ago
Rashford has trained away from Amorim's first-team squad since pre-season began.
Marcus Rashford, who spent last season on loan of Aston Villa, is linked with a move to Barcelona. Photo: Conor Molloy / ProSportsImages / DPPI via AFP
Manchester United outcast Marcus Rashford is closing in on a move to Barcelona, reports said on Saturday.
The 27-year-old has not played for his boyhood club since December 12, and joined Aston Villa on loan in early February.
ALSO READ: Arsenal seal divisive move for Chelsea winger Madueke
The Spanish champions have reportedly been his preferred destination since he was dropped by United manager Ruben Amorim.
Britain's Press Association said talks were progressing on a deal to take Rashford to Barcelona, with a season-long loan including an option to buy being worked on.
Rashford is among five players to have informed United they wish to explore a future away from Old Trafford, where he came through the academy and scored 138 goals in 426 first-team appearances.
The England international admitted he was 'ready for a new challenge' in December and last month revealed he would like to play alongside Barcelona's teenage prodigy Lamine Yamal.
Rashford has trained away from Amorim's first-team squad since pre-season began.
Barcelona sporting director Deco said in May that he liked Rashford and head coach Hansi Flick described the forward as a 'fantastic player'.
Rashford does not have a squad number at United having lost the 10 shirt to Brazil forward Matheus Cunha, who arrived at Old Trafford during the current transfer window along with left-back Diego Leon.
Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo is expected to join them after United finally struck a deal with Brentford worth an initial £65 million ($87 million).
ALSO READ: Real Madrid's Bellingham set to miss 12 weeks after shoulder surgery
United will likely have to fund any further deals through departures.
Even if Rashford were to leave initially on loan, the savings on the wage bill would be significant.
Barcelona had looked set to sign Spain winger Nico Williams but the 23-year-old recently signed a new 10-year contract at Athletic Bilbao.
The Catalan giants won a league and cup double last season — Flick's first campaign at the club.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

We're slowly starting to figure it out, says Brad Binder after Czechia MotoGP eighth-place finish
We're slowly starting to figure it out, says Brad Binder after Czechia MotoGP eighth-place finish

IOL News

timea day ago

  • IOL News

We're slowly starting to figure it out, says Brad Binder after Czechia MotoGP eighth-place finish

Brad Binder finished eighth in the Czech Republic this past weekend. Photo: Red Bull Image: Red Bull Brad Binder was once again made to work hard as he charged from the back of the grid to walk away from the Czech Grand Prix with a valuable eighth-place finish, salvaging points after another gritty ride. The South African returned to the Brno circuit — the same track where he made history in 2020 by delivering not only his first MotoGP win but also KTM's first in the premier class — with hopes of reviving his season, which has been far from easy so far. The 29-year-old started his race from 19th place looking for more improvement following his 10th-place finish in Saturday's sprint race. 3 KTM's in the top 10! 💪🧡#CzechGP — RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING (@KTM_Racing) July 20, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Binder admitted that finishing eighth in the main race wasn't exactly satisfying, but he took heart from the progress made with recent adjustments and is optimistic that the upcoming four-week summer break will allow the team to take further steps forward. 'I still never had the pace I was looking for, but somehow we were a little better (Sunday)," Binder said after the race. 'I found a way to be better in mid-corner and exit, but I was losing a lot of time in braking and entry. 'It just seemed to be more controllable in my hand, so I was really happy about that, and by no means am I happy with 8th position, but — even though it doesn't look like it — we are slowly starting to figure it out. 'This is something we have to work on and find the combination; if we can do that, then it can be very positive. We tried something completely different with the bike, a little bit with the engine character, and it helped a bit with the edge grip and the drive.' Spanish rider and Binder's teammate Pedro Acosta continued his good form with the RC16 as he secured a podium third-place finish behind championship favorite Marc Marquez and Aprilia's Marco Bezzecchi, who was second. Acosta has been the top KTM rider this season, currently finding himself in t of the championship riders, and Binder believes he can take away valuable lessons from his teammate and Tech3's Enea Bastianini, who also looked strong before crashing out in the main race. 'The really good thing is that both Pedro and Enea were super-fast this weekend, so I have some good things to check and figure out how they are doing it.'

Orlando Pirates end Spanish tour on a high as Ouaddou's vision takes shape
Orlando Pirates end Spanish tour on a high as Ouaddou's vision takes shape

IOL News

timea day ago

  • IOL News

Orlando Pirates end Spanish tour on a high as Ouaddou's vision takes shape

Orlando Pirates celebrated a successful end to their Spanish tour with a 2-0 win over Granada, signalling early progress under new coach Abdeslam Ouaddou. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix COMMENT Orlando Pirates wrapped up their Spanish pre-season tour with a 2-0 win over La Liga side Granada — a result that not only boosted morale but gave head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou a clearer picture of his squad's capabilities heading into the 2025/26 season. Across four matches played at the Marbella Football Centre, the Buccaneers showed flashes of tactical maturity and individual brilliance. While the early stages of the tour were shaky — marked by a 2-0 loss to Bolton Wanderers and a 1-1 draw with Cypriot club Pafos — there was evident improvement as the team held Las Palmas to a goalless draw before closing out with a deserved win over Granada. But it wasn't just about results. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The Spanish leg of pre-season provided a vital window for Ouaddou to bed in new ideas and assess the impact of fresh arrivals. Among the standout performers were new signings Sipho Mbule and Sihle Nduli, who both looked comfortable in the Pirates midfield. Mbule, calm and composed in possession, linked well with Thalente Mbatha in the centre of the park, giving Pirates a much-needed sense of control. Nduli, meanwhile, added bite and balance — his energy and ball recovery stood out, particularly against technically sound opposition. Their partnership added a new dimension to a midfield that often looked too one-paced last season. The ability to dictate tempo and absorb pressure became a recurring theme in the latter stages of the tour — a sign that Ouaddou's methods are beginning to take root. In attack, Relebohile Mofokeng once again showed why he remains one of the most exciting young players in the country. Confident, tricky and decisive in transition, he was involved in nearly everything Pirates created going forward. Yet his brilliance also highlighted the team's most pressing concern — finishing. Slowly our coach is getting it right, we just need to fix our CB but future looks good. If Mofokeng never gets to wear the no 10 jersey then Dr Khoza n Sono shud just permanently retire that number n let new players create their own legacy with new numbers going forward. — Khulu Khumalo (@devikhumalo) July 19, 2025 The Soweto giants struggled to convert chances throughout the tour, an issue that persisted even in their final win. Resolving that clinical edge will no doubt be a top priority as the domestic season approaches. Defensively, the Buccaneers tightened up as the games progressed. They conceded just three goals in four matches and finished with back-to-back clean sheets. Communication and structure improved notably, and while not yet perfect, the backline looked far more assured than at the start of the tour. Another major positive for Ouaddou will be the growing chemistry within the squad. Despite a demanding training load and mixed results, the players appeared more unified with each passing game. There was intent, belief and an increasing understanding of the tactical framework being laid out. Now, with Spain in the rear-view mirror, attention turns to the domestic campaign. Pirates begin their competitive season by defending their MTN8 crown in a quarter-final clash against Polokwane City at home. Ouaddou's project is still in its infancy, but the early signs from Spain suggest the Buccaneers may well be heading in the right direction — one well-drilled pass at a time.

Dominant Marquez cruises to Czech MotoGP win
Dominant Marquez cruises to Czech MotoGP win

The Citizen

time2 days ago

  • The Citizen

Dominant Marquez cruises to Czech MotoGP win

Reigning world champion Jorge Martin collected his first points after finishing seventh in the first race he has completed this year. First placed Ducati Lenovo Team's Spanish MotoGP rider Marc Marquez (L) celebrates on the podium after winning the motorcycle Czech Moto GP GRand Prix at the Masaryk circuit in Brno, Czech Republic on July 20, 2025. (Photo by Michal Cizek / AFP) Marc Marquez won the Czech MotoGP on Sunday for his eighth victory in 12 races this season and fifth in a row, extending his commanding lead in the world championship. The factory Ducati rider beat Marco Bezzecchi on an Aprilia by almost two seconds, while Pedro Acosta on a KTM came in third in his first race podium finish of the season. Marquez had a fifth straight perfect weekend, winning both the sprint on Saturday and Sunday's race. The 32-year-old Spaniard now leads the world championship with 381 points, 120 ahead of his younger brother Alex who crashed, and 168 ahead of Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia. Bagnaia started from pole on a sunny Sunday at Brno but only retained the lead until the second lap when Bezzecchi eased past him, with Marquez following suit soon afterwards. Acosta did the same to settle down in third after getting a boost from a third-place finish in Saturday's sprint. Marquez glided past Bezzecchi in lap eight as the runaway trio kept building up their lead, and as so often this season kept widening the gap comfortably. The three stayed put until the finish line, although fourth-placed Bagnaia gave Acosta a hard time pressing from behind. Reigning world champion Jorge Martin collected his first points after finishing seventh in the first race he has completed this year. Martin sat out the first three races following two pre-season crashes, and when he returned at Qatar in April, he crashed heavily again during the race and missed the next seven. Alex Marquez retired after crashing in lap two to leave Brno without a point following a disappointing 17th spot in the sprint race. He took out Joan Mir who also walked away from the gravel safety area, just like Enea Bastianini a lap later. The MotoGP circus will now take a summer break and resume with the Austrian GP on August 15-17.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store