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Marcus Rashford will shine at Barcelona and earn England World Cup spot – but only if he follows crucial advice
Aston Villa legend Gabby Agbonlahor is backing Marcus Rashford to make the World Cup squad next year after joining Barcelona on loan. The England international completed a season-long loan move to the LaLiga giants on Wednesday afternoon from Manchester United. Rashford has been given a huge opportunity at BarcelonaGetty talkSPORT understands that Rashford, who spent the second half of the 2024/25 season on loan at Villa Park, has agreed a huge pay-cut to make the deal happen. The 27-year-old is set to earn around £8.6million while in Spain, which is down from the £16.9m he would earn at Old Trafford. Though Barcelona will cover all of his wages, relieving United on that front. Should the move go well, Barcelona have a £26m option to buy, and Agbonlahor thinks the forward can reinvent himself in Spain to see him compete at the 2026 World Cup, having been omitted from their Euro 2024 squad. Speaking on talkSPORT Drive with co-host Ade Oladipo, Agbonlahor was asked if he thought Rashford would be a success in Catalonia. To which he said: “I think he will. I think he is going to have to work hard, and he’s going to have to do everything the manager wants him to do. “He’s got to live for Barcelona. He’s got to immerse himself in everything, and take the right people with you. “Don’t take too many people with you. Go out for meals if you can with the players. Go around to players’ houses, and go for dinner in the evenings. “People will say, and I agree, that he is quite lucky to get this move. “Now you’ve got it, go and get yourself signed next summer for £30m.” Rashford has taken the number 14 shirt, which has been worn in the past by legends such as Thierry HenryGetty Oladipo then stated: “You’ve hit the nail on the head. He needs to be thinking, ‘I need to stay here long term. “‘I have to show Hansi Flick what I can do, and I can’t be snobbish about coming off the bench.'” Agbonlahor the insisted that Rashford must first accept his role in the team where he may be used an option from the dugout. He remarked: “For the first 15 games of the season, you’re going to be off the bench. “At Aston Villa, he wasn’t a guaranteed starter. He had to earn to get into the side, never mind Barcelona. “He’s got to go there and listen to his teammates, and he’s got to score goals because the Spanish press will be on him.” Rashford proved to be an instant hit at Old Trafford after making his debut in 2015 Rashford is the first Englishman since Gary Lineker in 1986 to play for the LaLiga giants. He will now compete with Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski to be in the front three. Yamal is a player that Rashford has publicly praised in the past, so it will be fascinating to see how they do together. In terms of his United future, it looks bleak despite the fact he signed a new long-term deal in July 2023. Ruben Amorim has decided that Rashford has no place in his squad, and after a short loan at Aston Villa, he is at one of the biggest clubs in the world. And despite some doubting the move, Agbonlahor is backing Rashford to get a place in Thomas Tuchel‘s England side. Rashford’s loan at Villa ended with a disappointing injuryGetty He said: “I am happy for him. I picture him doing very well and being on that plane [to the World Cup].” Rashford made his first England appearance since March 2024 earlier this year, showing that Tuchel clearly has him in his plans if he can deliver for his new club. The forward has consistently played well for his country, where he scored three goals at the 2022 World Cup. It is now up to him to prove what he can do at Barcelona and get back into the England team consistently. And judging from his first words, he knows that as well. Speaking at his transfer unveiling, he said: “I’m very excited. It’s a club where people’s dreams come true, they win big prizes. “What the club stands for means a lot for me. I feel like I’m at home and a big factor in my choice to come here is because it is a family place and a good place for good players to showcase their skills. “Another factor is because the conversations I had with [Hansi Flick] were positive. What he did last season was terrific. “To lead such a young team to a very successful season and come back to pre-season and still want to do more, it shows me everything I thought I knew about the club and it’s everything I wished. “I’m eager to learn the Barcelona way.”
Aston Villa legend Gabby Agbonlahor is backing Marcus Rashford to make the World Cup squad next year after joining Barcelona on loan.
The England international completed a season-long loan move to the LaLiga giants on Wednesday afternoon from Manchester United.
talkSPORT understands that Rashford, who spent the second half of the 2024/25 season on loan at Villa Park, has agreed a huge pay-cut to make the deal happen.
The 27-year-old is set to earn around £8.6million while in Spain, which is down from the £16.9m he would earn at Old Trafford.
Though Barcelona will cover all of his wages, relieving United on that front.
Should the move go well, Barcelona have a £26m option to buy, and Agbonlahor thinks the forward can reinvent himself in Spain to see him compete at the 2026 World Cup, having been omitted from their Euro 2024 squad.
Speaking on talkSPORT Drive with co-host Ade Oladipo, Agbonlahor was asked if he thought Rashford would be a success in Catalonia.
To which he said: “I think he will. I think he is going to have to work hard, and he’s going to have to do everything the manager wants him to do.
“He’s got to live for Barcelona. He’s got to immerse himself in everything, and take the right people with you.
“Don’t take too many people with you. Go out for meals if you can with the players. Go around to players’ houses, and go for dinner in the evenings.
“People will say, and I agree, that he is quite lucky to get this move.
“Now you’ve got it, go and get yourself signed next summer for £30m.”
Oladipo then stated: “You’ve hit the nail on the head. He needs to be thinking, ‘I need to stay here long term.
“‘I have to show Hansi Flick what I can do, and I can’t be snobbish about coming off the bench.'”
Agbonlahor the insisted that Rashford must first accept his role in the team where he may be used an option from the dugout.
He remarked: “For the first 15 games of the season, you’re going to be off the bench.
“At Aston Villa, he wasn’t a guaranteed starter. He had to earn to get into the side, never mind Barcelona.
“He’s got to go there and listen to his teammates, and he’s got to score goals because the Spanish press will be on him.”
Rashford is the first Englishman since Gary Lineker in 1986 to play for the LaLiga giants.
He will now compete with Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski to be in the front three.
Yamal is a player that Rashford has publicly praised in the past, so it will be fascinating to see how they do together.
In terms of his United future, it looks bleak despite the fact he signed a new long-term deal in July 2023.
Ruben Amorim has decided that Rashford has no place in his squad, and after a short loan at Aston Villa, he is at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
And despite some doubting the move, Agbonlahor is backing Rashford to get a place in Thomas Tuchel‘s England side.
He said: “I am happy for him. I picture him doing very well and being on that plane [to the World Cup].”
Rashford made his first England appearance since March 2024 earlier this year, showing that Tuchel clearly has him in his plans if he can deliver for his new club.
The forward has consistently played well for his country, where he scored three goals at the 2022 World Cup.
It is now up to him to prove what he can do at Barcelona and get back into the England team consistently.
And judging from his first words, he knows that as well.
Speaking at his transfer unveiling, he said: “I’m very excited. It’s a club where people’s dreams come true, they win big prizes.
“What the club stands for means a lot for me. I feel like I’m at home and a big factor in my choice to come here is because it is a family place and a good place for good players to showcase their skills.
“Another factor is because the conversations I had with [Hansi Flick] were positive. What he did last season was terrific.
“To lead such a young team to a very successful season and come back to pre-season and still want to do more, it shows me everything I thought I knew about the club and it’s everything I wished.
“I’m eager to learn the Barcelona way.”
