Barcelona’s Hansi Flick Expresses Frustration Over Rashford’s Registration

FC Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has expressed frustration regarding the club’s inability to register new loan signing Marcus Rashford for the upcoming La Liga season. The England international joined the Catalan club from Manchester United this summer, but financial constraints have delayed his registration, preventing him from participating in the competition.

The challenges stem from La Liga’s strict wage cap rules, which all clubs must adhere to. Barcelona must navigate these regulations to register Rashford, alongside new goalkeeper Joan Garcia and fellow keeper Wojciech Szczesny, who also requires registration following his recent contract extension.

Barcelona aims to alleviate some financial pressure through an arrangement involving captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen, whose ongoing medical absence allows the club to allocate 80 percent of his salary towards new registrations. This strategy proved effective last season when the club managed to register Dani Olmo after Andreas Christensen sustained an injury.

Despite these efforts, Flick remains in a challenging position ahead of the season opener against RCD Mallorca on September 16, 2023. In a press conference, he stated, “For me, the situation, you can imagine I’m not happy about that. But I know the situation and I believe in the club.” He emphasized the need to focus on aspects within the club’s control while expressing hope for a resolution.

Ter Stegen’s situation initially led to tensions, including a brief removal from the captaincy, but communication between the player and the club has improved. Flick remarked, “I think the most important thing is that everyone speaks together. Marc and the club, they spoke. The most important thing is that he comes back.”

Both Rashford and Garcia participated in the recent Joan Gamper Trophy, Barcelona’s final pre-season match, which saw the team secure a convincing 5-0 victory over Como. In this game, Rashford contributed significantly by assisting a goal for Raphinha, showcasing his potential impact on the squad.

In an effort to integrate into his new environment, Rashford has been learning Spanish and has received support from teammates fluent in English. He noted, “There are good people who are like a bridge. Frenkie de Jong speaks really good English, Jules Kounde speaks very good English, but they also have good Spanish because they’ve been here a few years.” He added, “Honestly, it’s easier than what I thought it would be. Football is a language in itself and it’s easy to communicate through the general vibe on the pitch.”

As Barcelona prepares for the new season, the club’s management must address these financial hurdles to ensure that key players like Rashford can contribute fully to their campaign. The situation highlights the broader challenges facing many clubs within La Liga as they strive to balance competitive aspirations with financial realities.