Barcelona sporting director Deco claimed that the Spanish giants are prioritizing contract extensions before considering it new recruits when asked about the club’s interest in Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford.
The Catalan club are one of numerous European clubs linked with a move for the out-of-favour striker. While AC Milan’s interest has waned and Rashford’s desire to join Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund has been questioned, Barcelona is considered the England international’s ‘dream destination’.
There were reports earlier this month that Barcelona were pursuing a bid for Rashford, but Deco was keen to play down transfer speculation.
Shortly before Barcelona took on Benfica in the penultimate league phase game of the first round of the Champions League on Tuesday, Deco was asked about a meeting in Lisbon he had with Manchester United agent Arturo Canales regarding a move for Rashford. “We’re on the topic [financial] Fair play,” Deco said Movistar“To arrange it, if in the end we can strengthen the team we will try, but today there is nothing.”
Deco stressed that Barcelona’s first priority is to ensure they do not breach La Liga’s strict financial regulations. The club has already had to contact the Spanish government to obtain emergency registration (and temporary registration) for Dani Olmo and Pau Victor for this season.
Barcelona are also actively negotiating new contracts for several first-team players, which will place even greater strain on the club’s fragile economic situation.
“These are fair play matters and the priority today is to renew the important players we have in the squad,” explained Deco. “Once this is over we can focus on one reinforcement or another, but that is not something the manager has asked of us.”
The latest reports in the British media suggest that Rashford is keen to stay at Old Trafford and fight for his place. Ruben Amorim hasn’t given the 27-year-old a single minute of first-team action since mid-December, but the young United fan is reportedly taking on extra training sessions to find a way back into the head coach’s plans.