Graham Hunter has dismissed reports that Marcus Rashford may move away from Old Trafford this summer.
Despite back pages linking the attacker with Barcelona, he believes that the 21 year-old England star is too “dedicated” to Manchester United to leave.
Speaking on OTB AM, Spanish football expert, Hunter explained that Barcelona’s current lack of transfer funds and Rashford’s commitment to his current club are just two reasons why he believes that the transfer won’t happen.
FC Barcelona celebrating the Luis Suarez hat trick (0-3) - reports today suggest that Rashford may replace the Uruguayan (Photo by pressinphoto/Sipa USA)According to reports, a stall in the contract negotiations between Rashford and United had encouraged Barcelona and Ernesto Valverde to target the striker who is currently enjoying his best season to-date in the Premier League.
Here's @BumperGraham reacting to reports linking #MUFC star Marcus Rashford with a move to the Camp Nou 🏟️💰😈
You can watch the full chat here ➡️https://t.co/8A5RN0dWGv pic.twitter.com/kdKUPC9sEN— Off The Ball (@offtheball) March 27, 2019
Rashford’s current £75,000 per week contract is set to expire at the end of next season.
Hunter explained that while Rashford fits the exact profile of what Barcelona “want and need,” the Catalan club simply do not have the funds to lure him away from Manchester.
“They don’t have €100m. They are going to buy de Ligt, if they possibly can. At which point, even if they sell well, the money supply has more than run out.”
Dutch Eredivisie Season 2018 - 2019, Stadium de Arena, Ajax player Matthijs de Ligt on the ball during the game Ajax - PEC . (Photo by Pro Shots/Sipa USA)Perhaps more importantly, Hunter noted, Rashford, “Is so dedicated to Manchester United that it would shock me rigid if he left.”
Rashford first signed for Man United when he was 8 years-old and has made over 160 first team appearances since making his first team debut in 2016.
Last month, Rashford became the second-youngest player in Manchester United history, behind Ryan Giggs, to make 100 league appearances for the club.
Hunter concluded that the reports were likely spread to either help Rashford in his contract negotiations with the club, or the result of “guesswork."
Rashford, who last month scored the vital last minute winner against PSG to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, will face Barcelona on the 10th of April.
Jake O’Donnell
