MARCUS RASHFORD’S future at Manchester United looks bleak to say the least.
After being exiled by manager Ruben Amorim in December, he has not had a look-in since, which prompted him to secure a loan transfer to Aston Villa.
AlamyMarcus Rashford’s future lays away from Man Utd[/caption] GettyHe has openly spoken about linking up with Barcelona[/caption] GettyBut how could the potential switch be beneficial to all parties, including Lamine Yamal[/caption]Despite scoring four goals and adding six assists under Unai Emery, Amorim is adamant the English winger will not be a part of his plans at Old Trafford and is even willing to leave him behind from the squad’s pre-season tour.
Man Utd want to sell and have set a price tag of around £40million to suitors, with the likes of Newcastle and Barcelona linked.
Rashford, 27, has made no secret of his desire to leave, and last weekend openly spoke about the prospect of playing for Barcelona and alongside wonderkid Lamine Yamal.
He discussed a position change to suit the Camp Nou outfit’s needs and was full of praise for Yamal, saying: “It’s difficult to put into words what he’s doing because he’s not supposed to be doing it at 16, 17.
“He’s playing at the highest level, I don’t think we’ve seen it. To have his mentality is a skill.”
Below, we look at the tactical details behind the potential transfer of Rashford to Barcelona, and why both clubs and Yamal can all benefit from the deal.
Movement
One of the most consistent strengths of Rashford’s game has been his movement and ability to make decisive runs beyond the last man and to attack the space behind the opposition defensive line.
When Rashford first came through at Man Utd under Louis van Gaal he often played as a more dynamic centre-forward option.
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Gradually, however, Rashford moved over to play from the left of the attack and in these areas he became less dangerous when breaking the line through movement.
If Rashford were to move to Barcelona and play as the central striker, his movement in tight spaces combined with the way he can explode from a standing start will offer real value for Hansi Flick‘s side.
This is especially true with Yamal playing from the right side of the attack.
Despite only being 17 years old, there is a very real argument to be made that Yamal is one of, if not the best, player in the world.
His vision and ability to find a pass when cutting inside on his left foot would be ideal in releasing Rashford.
Here we see how Yamal finds clever angles to release team-mates in dangerous areasWhile Lewandowski has been one of the top strikers in football across the last decade – and a top physical specimen – he has lost a yard of pace and sharpness, and his ability to make runs and create separation quickly has declined.
The quality of his runs and movement is still there, but the athleticism to keep up with his brain has faded.
This is where Rashford could make a lot of sense for Barcelona.
His explosiveness and ability to make line-breaking runs would enable Yamal to make these passes with confidence.
Rashford’s movement here gives Amad an option to pass to slip the ball to him before the Englishman goes on to scoreRashford can create immediate separation from defenders and take advantage of his passes.
His extra athleticism on the last line could be a crucial detail for Barcelona in their bid to retain the LaLiga title and win the Champions League.
Meeting crosses
Barcelona have a long-standing tradition of being extremely greedy with possession of the ball.
Under Flick they play an extremely high defensive line and look to force the opposition into deep defensive blocks.
This does, of course, carry some risk in terms of leaving space that can be attacked, but they also dominate the ball in the final third and create opportunities to break into the opposition area.
However, this means they have to find ways to break down the opposition.
In order to do so, there are points Barca will cross from the wide areas, either through Yamal on the right or through Raphinha on the left.
Lewandowski has always been good from these positions thanks to his sharp brain and quick movement, but once again, his declining athleticism has led to issues.
Here we see how Yama is able to produce a quality cross which only needs to be met by a willing runnerRashford has long been underrated for his ability in the air and his movement to attack crosses into the area.
He reads the flight of the ball well and his jinking movements will often unbalance defenders as he moves one way before cutting and attacking at a different angle.
The forward will often make long runs from deeper areas, knowing the angles to attack the space in the opposition penalty area.
These runs tend to be at a higher speed and intensity, and as such it can be exceptionally difficult for defences to defend them.
Here a deep run from Rashford allows him to burst past defenders before getting the ball in a dangerous areaAll he needs is quality delivery.
There is a real sense that signing a player like Rashford would bring an extra dimension to the attack for Barcelona.
Playing back to goal.
One thing Rashford had definitely appeared to struggle with in the past was playing with his back to goal when playing centrally.
His explosive pace and curving runs are anathema to a target-man style centre-forward who can bring team-mates into play around them.
In his younger days this might have been put down to a lack of concentration or composure.
But it was interesting to note he Rashford referenced how he now feels more comfortable playing with his back to goal as a central striker.
To succeed as the No. 9 at Barcelona, this aspect of his game would need to be top-dollar.
Here we see how Barcelona’s attack is brought into play by the hold-up of Robert LewandowskiIf Rashford is able to allow Barcelona to play quickly forward to a safe platform and then link play with team-mates who will be swarming forwards to support him, he will be integral.
At 5ft 11″, Rashford certainly has the frame of a forward who can hold off defenders with his back.
His combination play and ability to get around his marker through sheer acceleration and strength would make him a real threat if utilised correctly.
And the mere threat of this happening will force opposition defenders to think twice about getting too tight when marking him.
At Aston Villa Rashford showed glimpses of his central hold up link play, in this example dropping deep before bursting forwardsRashford is no longer a young and raw player.
He is an experienced international player who is in his peak years and has the tools to be able to play centrally for a team with the attacking dominance of Barcelona.
Conclusion
A move abroad feels like the logical next step for Rashford to make, with a change of scenery to a club like Barcelona appearing to make sense.
It would be fascinating to see whether his profile and skill set could provide that next level for Barcelona in terms of unlocking the attacking threat of the team.
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