When Barcelona face Sevilla in La Liga on Oct 5, all eyes will inevitably be on Marcus Rashford, the Manchester United loanee whose resurgence has injected fresh dynamism into Hansi Flick’s squad.

Since arriving at the Spanish giants on a season-long loan in July, the 27-year-old has transformed from a sidelined figure at Old Trafford to a key contributor in Catalonia, boosting his hopes for a spot in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the 2026 World Cup.

His recent form – two goals and five assists in nine games in all competitions – positions him as a pivotal player to watch against a Sevilla side looking to disrupt Barcelona’s title defence.

Rashford’s move came after a turbulent spell at United, where he was exiled by manager Ruben Amorim and spent the second half of the 2024-25 season

on loan at Aston Villa

United’s dismal 15th-place finish in the Premier League underscored the club’s struggles, and Rashford’s fallout with Amorim over perceived attitude issues sealed his departure.

In contrast, Barcelona, fresh off a domestic treble under Flick, offered a dream landing spot. 

Rashford himself

described Barca as “a place where dreams come true”

But beyond the romance, what has truly reignited his spark?

The differences between the environments at Barcelona and United – tactical structure, coach...