Marcus Rashford’s willingness to take a 15 per cent pay cut paved the way for his loan move to Barcelona.
The Spanish champions made the Manchester United outcast – who was seen arriving in Barcelona on Sunday night – their top target this summer despite flirtations with Liverpool’s Luis Diaz and Spain winger Nico Williams.
But Barcelona, who have had major financial issues for years, have so far been unable to register new signings and Rashford might have to wait until after the club’s tour of Asia, which starts this week, to be officially added to their squad.
His salary sacrifice — a 15 per cent reduction on his £315,000-a-week wages — makes that more likely.
Barcelona had problems registering players last summer with new arrival Dani Olmo having to sit out the first three matches of the campaign before eventually getting La Liga clearance.
Rashford almost signed for Barcelona in January but La Liga insisted the club sell before they buy and when they failed to offload Ansu Fati, who has since moved to Monaco, the deal had to be put on hold.
Marcus Rashford was spotted arriving in Barcelona with the forward nearing a loan move
Rashford will take a 15 per cent pay cut on his £315,000-a-week wages at Barcelona
Subject to a medical on Monday, Rashford will train with his new Barca team-mates on Tuesday
Rashford arrives with no obligatory buy-clause and already publicly declared desire to link up with Yamal.
He flew into Barcelona on Sunday night and will train for the first time with his new team-mates on Tuesday subject to a medical on Monday.
The player was videoed on his arrival by fans who could be heard welcoming him to the city as he drove past in a car.
At Barcelona, Rashford is reportedly set to have two shirt numbers to choose from, according to reports in Spain.
Currently available are the Nos 14, 19 and 22, with first-teamers allowed to pick from 1-25.
The 14 shirt holds historic significance to the club as the shirt Blaugrana icon Johan Cruyff wore.
It is also the jersey that Thierry Henry, who is believed to have been an idol of Rashford’s, took on his arrival at the Nou Camp.
The No 19, meanwhile, was recently vacated by Yamal, who has taken on the No 10, and it was also previously occupied by Argentina legend Lionel Messi.
England international Rashford spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa
He will reportedly have to choose from the Nos 14 and 19 shirts to wear at Barcelona
Rashford’s former United team-mate Paul Pogba reacted to the news of his impending move to Barcelona, telling YouTuber IShowSpeed: ‘That’s crazy, but I’m happy for him because they [United] took his number. Manchester United are losing a great player. Unlucky for them.
‘It’s great for Barcelona to be honest. I’m not even talking about United, because they’ve bought a few new players and the new manager wants to do his thing I guess.
‘It’s not really his [Amorim’s] fault. If he doesn’t believe in someone. He needs to win. If he doesn’t win they’re going to sack him.’
Rashford’s No 10 shirt at United was taken by recent arrival Matheus Cunha, who joined the club from Wolves for £62.5m.
