WHY BARCELONA HAVEN’T WORN THEIR HOME KIT AT ESPANYOL SINCE 2016
For the first time since 2016, Barcelona will wear their traditional blue and garnet stripes at the RCDE Stadium. Get the full story.
Barcelona are about to break a pretty long streak in the Catalan derby. For the first time in a decade, they’ll wear their classic blue and garnet kit at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium.
Sergi Sole from Mundo Deportivo says La Liga finally gave Barcelona the okay to play in their traditional Blaugrana stripes at Cornella-El Prat. It’s been a while—since January 13, 2016, to be exact—since anyone saw those famous colors at Espanyol’s ground.
Back then, Barcelona wore the blue and garnet stripes with red shorts in a Copa del Rey match. They won it 2–0. Just eleven days before that, they showed up in the same kit for a league game at the same stadium. That one ended 0-0.
Ever since, every trip to RCDE Stadium meant Barcelona had to leave their main kit at home. Instead, they showed up in all sorts of alternate colors.
Here’s the odd part. Out of 16 visits to Espanyol’s new stadium, Barcelona only managed to wear their first-choice kit four times. The first two happened right after the stadium opened—a scoreless draw in 2009/10 and then a 5-1 win in the 2010/11 season. Now, this upcoming derby will mark just the fifth time they walk out onto that pitch dressed like Barcelona.
But don’t expect to see a sea of blue and garnet in the stands. Espanyol’s rules still ban fans from wearing Barcelona shirts or colors inside the RCDE Stadium. Players get the tradition, but supporters have to blend in.
Over the years, Barcelona’s kits at Cornella-El Prat have been all over the place. The yellow ‘senyera’ and straight yellow have popped up the most—four times. They’ve also gone out in black, orange, maroon, and, yes, even mango.
Last season, Barcelona clinched the league title there in their black kit, winning 2–0. Two seasons before that, they locked up the championship in the yellow senyera. But this time, it’s back to basics—classic Blaugrana under the derby lights.
BARCELONA PUTS MARCUS RASHFORD’S £26M PERMANENT TRANSFER "ON ICE" EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
Man Utd face a wage crisis as Marcus Rashford’s move to Barcelona stalls over financial constraints and salary caps.
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Marcus Rashford’s permanent move from Manchester United to Barcelona seems to have hit the brakes as the Catalan club reassess their plans for next season. They initially viewed Rashford’s experience as a key addition to support the young players they’re nurturing, but retaining Robert Lewandowski in that veteran role is now looking more likely.
Lewandowski was expected to leave, yet Barcelona have opened the door for him to stay, offering a new contract, though on less favourable terms. The financial impact of signing Rashford might complicate Barca’s other transfer ambitions, as the board weighs their options carefully.
Despite Hansi Flick’s wish to keep Rashford at Camp Nou, Barcelona appear to be holding off on the deal, partly due to challenges around his wage demands, according to reports in Sport. Rashford is reportedly willing to take a significant pay cut, nearly halving his salary through a longer-term contract, but even so, it could stretch the club’s wage budget.
A £26 million fee has reportedly been agreed for Rashford’s transfer, yet the total cost of his package has raised some eyebrows. There’s concern that making Rashford’s stay permanent might limit Barca’s ability to sign a defender and forward unless they offload other players.
Barcelona are reportedly exploring alternatives with profiles similar to Rashford, including Benfica’s Andreas Schjelderup, Osasuna’s Victor Munoz, and Mallorca's Jan Virgili. With Lewandowski likely to stick around, these options might gain more traction.
Their pursuit of defender Alessandro Bastoni and a ‘world-class’ centre-forward could also shape the outcome, but things remain uncertain. How Rashford finishes this season might still influence what comes next.
So far, Rashford has scored 10 goals and provided 13 assists in 39 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona. He’s made it clear he’d prefer to stay.
“Of course, what I want is to stay at Barca,” he told Sport earlier. “It’s the end goal, but it’s not the reason why I’m training hard and giving it my best. The purpose is to win. Barca is a huge, fantastic club, built to win titles.”
Lewandowski, who turns 38 this summer, has been offered a contract with half his current fixed salary. As a Bundesliga legend, he still wants clarity regarding his role, and several clubs have shown interest in signing him on a free transfer.
Meanwhile, Rashford remains under contract at Manchester United until 2028 and faces an awkward return if Barcelona doesn't finalise the deal. His £325,000-a-week wages don’t fit well within United’s current structure, which favours incentive-driven contracts with lower basic pay. That could create some tension behind the scenes.
WHY BARCELONA FAVORS KEEPING VETERAN ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI OVER FERRAN TORRES
Barcelona is ready to sell Ferran Torres to fund a move for Julian Alvarez while keeping Robert Lewandowski on a pay cut.
Barcelona is planning to reshape its attack this summer, focusing more on keeping veteran striker Robert Lewandowski than on Ferran Torres. The club is open to offers for the 26-year-old Spanish forward to raise funds that would support their efforts to bring in two new forwards and refresh the frontline.
Torres could be moved to generate transfer funds. ESPN reports that Barcelona is willing to consider offers for him as they try to finance their summer signings. Torres is under contract until 2027, making this transfer window a critical opportunity to secure a substantial fee. Although he has shown moments of promise, his performances have lacked consistency, and he hasn’t scored since late January. Over this season, he has netted 16 goals in 40 appearances. Head coach Hansi Flick remains confident in his dedication, but selling him would provide the financial flexibility needed to pursue higher-profile players.
On the other hand, Lewandowski seems more inclined to stay at Camp Nou. At 37, he’s reportedly prepared to take a pay cut to remain, prioritising his family’s stability despite interest from MLS’s Chicago Fire and various Saudi Pro League teams. When asked about his future by The Athletic, he admitted uncertainty, saying he hasn’t yet felt ready to decide and might take a few more months to settle on the best path.
Meanwhile, sporting director Deco is targeting ambitious signings to upgrade the squad. A deal for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez is reportedly underway, though it won’t come cheap. Barcelona is also trying to extend the loan of Marcus Rashford beyond the current spell. They have the option to buy the England international from Manchester United for €30 million, but are aiming to negotiate either a lower fee or a new loan arrangement. Ideally, Alvarez would slot in as the starting striker next season, which would reduce playing time for Torres.
Financially, Barcelona has been busy securing its young core, offering new contracts to talents like Gavi, Pedri, and Pau Cubarsi, with recent extensions for Eric Garcia and Fermin Lopez as well. However, they have not opened talks with Torres, indicating he may not be part of their long-term plans.
Lewandowski, for his part, is taking a patient approach. He noted that at his age and with his experience, there’s no rush to make a decision. “Maybe in three months is probably when I have to decide,” he said. “But still, I don’t have any stress.”
