Barcelona Candidate Vilajoana Doubts Rashford Deal, Prefers Virgili

Barcelona presidential candidate Xavier Vilajoana has cast uncertainty over the potential permanent signing of Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, proposing an alternative internal option instead.

Rashford is currently on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United, where caretaker manager Michael Carrick has already stated his intention to recall the England international should he be appointed permanent manager. The 28-year-old forward, however, has publicly expressed his desire to secure a permanent transfer to the Catalan club.

Should he win the upcoming presidential election, Vilajoana indicated the deal would be reassessed. Speaking to ESPN, he emphasized a philosophy of prioritizing internal solutions before external acquisitions. As a specific example, he highlighted the possibility of activating a release clause for winger Jan Virgili, who is on loan at Mallorca from Barcelona, as a preferable alternative to meeting Rashford’s reported transfer clause.

“I am someone who believes you should always look in-house first, as I have always said, and then look outside depending on the characteristics of the players you have,” Vilajoana said. “For example, I want to give the example of Jan Virgili, who is currently playing for Mallorca. He is a great winger. I would maybe look at [exercising the clause to re-sign him] as an option, for example, rather than paying the Rashford clause.”

He further clarified that the final decision would involve broader discussion: “That said, it’s not just the president who arrives and makes the decision. The president arrives, puts things on the table, alternatives are considered, it’s discussed, and a decision is made.”

Rashford’s loan agreement includes an automatic obligation to make his move permanent this summer unless certain conditions are met, typically involving a significant financial threshold. Vilajoana’s comments suggest a potential shift in strategy should his candidacy succeed, prioritising a less costly, homegrown alternative.

The comments underline how Barcelona’s upcoming presidential election, scheduled for early summer, could directly influence major transfer decisions. The new president will inherit a squad requiring reinforcement and significant financial restructuring, making cost-effective solutions a likely priority. The fate of Rashford, therefore, may hinge not only on sporting considerations but also on the strategic vision of the club’s next leader.