Marcus Rashford Scores First Barcelona Goal, Eyes no. 9 Role Amidst Intense Competition
In a promising debut for the Catalan giants, Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford scored his first goal for Barcelona in a pre-season friendly against Daegu FC on Wednesday, August 7th, at the City Football Group Stadium in Girona, Spain. This comes as Rashford reportedly expressed willingness to adapt to a central striker position, despite limited experience in that role during his time at Old Trafford.
Rashford, who joined Barcelona on a season-long loan on July 26th, initially featured on the left wing in his first two appearances for the club. However, manager Hansi flick deployed the 25-year-old England international as the central striker against Daegu, a tactical shift that yielded immediate results. His goal, described as “well-taken,” showcased sharp movement within the penalty area.
The move to a central role is notable given the existing competition for forward positions at Barcelona. The squad currently includes established players like Polish star Robert Lewandowski, alongside Spanish internationals Raphinha and Ferran Torres, and emerging talent Lamine Yamal. Rashford’s willingness to compete for the No. 9 spot adds another dimension to Flick’s attacking options.
Reports from Unitedinfocus.com indicate that Rashford believes he can prove former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag wrong by succeeding in the central striker role. Barcelona players have also reportedly been impressed with Rashford’s early performances, with one unnamed teammate noting his movement “reminds me a little…” of established goalscorers.
Rashford will have another opportunity to impress in Barcelona’s final pre-season match against Como on August 10th, before the start of the 2023-24 La Liga season, scheduled to begin on August 11th. Barcelona finished second in La Liga last season, trailing champions FC Barcelona by 12 points.
