Marcus Rashford is going through intense days. Just weeks after arriving at FC Barcelona, the English forward has already made his debut and experienced what it's like to wear the blaugrana jersey. He did so with a victory, 3-0 against Mallorca, at the start of the 2025/26 LaLiga season.
In an interview for SPORT, Rashford spoke about everything: his adaptation, his goals, and, above all, his opinion on Lamine Yamal, the young man who's at the center of much attention.
Ambition for titles
From the very beginning, the former Manchester United player made it clear that he hasn't come to go unnoticed. "This team is ready to win, otherwise, they wouldn't have won three trophies last season," he stated. For him, the squad and the coaching staff have what it takes to fight for the Champions League and everything else that comes their way.
Rashford sums it up like this: "The season is long and soccer is unpredictable, but with the mentality we have, we can compete for everything."
Happiness as a driving force
For Marcus, success can't be understood without a good dose of personal motivation. "The main reason why I play is to win and to win I need to be happy. That's how I play my best soccer," he confessed.
He says this state of mind is fueled by the atmosphere in the locker room and the coach's trust.
Defense of Lamine Yamal
One of the clearest moments came when Lamine Yamal and the criticism he's received from Madridist sectors were discussed. Rashford was blunt:
"As a person, Lamine is a cheerful guy, a joker, always with a smile. As a footballer, he's a unique talent, the most surprising thing is his maturity, he thinks and plays like a veteran."
To the doubts about whether the youth academy player deserves so much recognition so soon, Rashford replied without hesitation: "He's far above his age. If he doesn't win the Ballon d'Or this year, he'll win it later. I have no doubts."
This message sounds like a public defense against any external criticism and makes it clear that inside the locker room there's full trust in the number 10.
A nod to Flick's method
Rashford also dedicated words to Hansi Flick, the Barça coach. For him, clarity and communication are key, especially in a team with young talents.
"He's very direct, and that's vital when you have so many young players, the direction must be clear," he commented. He also perceives a special ambition in the German: "He wants to do better than last year. That motivation spreads to the group."
With this interview, Marcus Rashford not only showed his commitment to Barça, but also sent a message between the lines: great players support each other. His support for Lamine Yamal is a direct response to those who doubt the young man. For the Englishman, talent has no age and the goal is just one: to win, together.