Barcelona new signing given green light to play limited role against Vissel Kobe

Marcus Rashford is ready to wear the Barcelona shirt for the first time after being given the green light to play in Sunday’s pre-season match against Vissel Kobe, reports Javier Miguel. 

The English forward, who recently joined from Manchester United on a loan deal, has already signed his contract with the Catalan club. 

While Barcelona have not officially announced his arrival yet, the move is complete, and Rashford is now a Barça player.

Rashford has already trained

The 27-year-old trained at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on Tuesday. In the morning session, he mainly observed the drills and took part in the technical discussions. 

But by the afternoon, he joined some of the exercises organised by Hansi Flick. This also gave Rashford the chance to meet his new teammates, who welcomed him into the squad ahead of a big season.

There had been some uncertainty over whether Rashford would be fit enough to play this weekend, especially since he has not played a competitive game since April. 

However, the coaching team is now considering giving him a few minutes against the Japanese side.

A valuable addition

In Rashford, Flick has added another quality option up front, as he is known for his ability to play across the front line. His versatility will be an asset, especially in a long and demanding season. 

Although he has mostly played as a left winger and centre forward, Flick is expected to use him as a rotation player depending on the needs of each match.

For now, Rashford’s involvement will be gradual as he works towards full fitness. But his presence in training and possible minutes against Vissel Kobe are promising signs. 

If all goes well, Barcelona fans could see him playing a bigger role in the coming weeks. The club hopes his arrival adds depth and spark to their attacking options.