Marcus Rashford looks set for a Premier League return this summer, even if Barcelona decide to keep him. Barcelona always liked the idea behind Rashford’s loan deal. They saw a chance to buy him and, if needed, sell him on right away to help with their own money troubles.

That’s from La Liga insider Guillem Balague, who’s been digging into what Barcelona’s actually thinking. Rashford, now 28, surprised a lot of people with his performances in Spain. Suddenly, that £26 million option to buy him looks like a steal.

Manchester United didn’t expect Barcelona to try to push the price down even more. But for Barcelona, saving a bit now could mean a bigger payday later, especially if another Premier League club decides they want Rashford while the window’s still open.

“It was a loan because Barcelona couldn’t pay up front, but at £30 million, if Rashford did well, they’d pay it,” Balague told MEN Sport. “They hoped their finances would be stable enough not to haggle, but Deco talked to people at Aston Villa and United, and both were surprised United let Rashford go for just £30 million at 27. Barcelona saw their chance.”

There were a couple of options for Barcelona: if Rashford impressed, they’d keep him. Or, they could buy him anyway and sell him back to the Premier League for a profit; he’s still a big name there. But Rashford wanted to stay, and the club only recently made up its mind.

Barcelona holds the exclusive right to buy Rashford for £26 million. They were also hoping his Premier League suitors might pay a premium after watching him shine in Spain.

Now, all signs point to Barcelona wanting to keep him. It’s rare to get a player of his ability, at this point in his career, for such a reasonable fee.

That’s even more true given Barcelona’s financial headaches right now. The Camp Nou renovation bills are still hanging over them. As Kieran Maguire told MEN Sport back in December, Barcelona’s summer spending could depend on something like winning the Champions League. That’s how tight things are.

If Barcelona do decide to sell Rashford, the price could still undercut what United would ask from a domestic rival. So a club like Aston Villa, where Rashford spent the back half of the 2024/25 season, might want to check in on Barcelona’s terms.

Rashford really turned things around during his loan at Villa. Unai Emery found a way to get the best out of him after things soured under Ruben Amorim at United. Rashford became a key player in Villa’s Champions League run.

In the end, Villa didn’t trigger the £40 million option in his contract. But now, a year later, there’s a chance for them or any Premier League team to sign him for a similar amount, maybe even less, with Barcelona making a healthy profit.

Balague, whose latest book “Rise of the Villains" dives into Emery’s work at Villa, says Barcelona always kept the idea of a quick sale in their back pocket if Rashford wasn’t the right fit. But now, with Rashford’s form for Barcelona, that sort of quick flip seems a lot less likely.

“Now they want to keep him,” Balague added. “They’re hoping to bring the price down from £26 million, but United won’t budge on that. And in the coming years”

Raphinha, Barcelona’s winger and one of the team captains, jumped into a fan Q&A on the club’s YouTube channel earlier today. He didn’t hold back about the team’s chances against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals; he flat-out said they believe they can turn things around.

That 4-0 loss at the Metropolitano stung, no question. It crushed a lot of hope about defending the cup. But inside the Barcelona dressing room, there’s still this spark. They honestly think they can pull off a remontada when they play the second leg at Camp Nou next week.

“We trust we can play a great match. We believe we’re capable of doing it. If there’s one team that can come back, it’s us,” Raphinha said, sounding pretty fired up. “We know it’ll be tough and really complicated, but I think we’re ready for whatever comes.”

Now in his fourth season, Raphinha has become a real leader in the squad. He talked about how close everyone is and how that’s been a big reason for their strong run under Hansi Flick the past couple of years.

“The dressing room is great. The players get along really well. We’re like a family. Honestly, we spend more time together than with our own families because of all the trips and training,” he said. “There’s real friendship here, and I think a lot of our success comes from that.”

Talking about wearing the captain’s armband again, Raphinha couldn’t hide how much it means to him. “Being one of Barça’s captains means a lot. Since I arrived, I’ve tried to help however I can. Being captain here is something only a few players ever experience. It’s a huge privilege. I never imagined it, not even in my wildest dreams.”

Last season was like a dream for him; he was involved in 60 goals and barely missed a match. This year? Not so much. Injuries and fitness issues kept him out for 13 games, and he sat on the bench twice without coming on.

“I’ve had tough moments. Players hate injuries because we can’t do what we love. They’re mentally exhausting. Sometimes you don’t even know why you got injured. It’s rough,” he admitted.

But he wanted fans to know he’s coming back strong. “I feel really good, both mentally and physically. I’m trying to get back to my best after the injury. It’s never easy to hit 100% right away, but mentally I’m in a great place, and physically I’m almost there.”