There have been moments when the possible arrival of Marcus Rashford at Barça seemed completely off the table, but this has changed in recent hours. Saudi Arabia might make this operation possible again, almost closing a deal with the Catalan team. Surprisingly, Al-Ittihad is going to take one of La Masia's greatest talents: the Catalan Unai Hernández.
Unai Hernández requested not to play the last 'B' team match, and his departure is considered a done deal as his contract ends on June 30, but he will leave immediately. The operation is being finalized, and no problems are expected, to the point that Sport has already provided figures for the agreement. Unai will head to Saudi Arabia in a deal ranging between 5 and 6 million euros.
Despite the fact that at FC Barcelona there was a lot of confidence in Unai Hernández, the truth is that, so far, the youth player had not received any renewal proposal. Everything indicated that he would leave for free in the coming months, but he has an irresistible offer on the table to play for the next few years at Al-Ittihad.
The operation has been personally led by Ramón Planes, a former Barça employee. Currently, he serves as the sporting director of Al-Ittihad and has seen Unai as a very interesting market option. Although the plan was for him to stay, the Barça team is delighted with this possibility, as they will receive a significant amount for someone who could leave for free.
Unai Hernández Brings Marcus Rashford Closer to Barça
Unai Hernández's departure could end up being key for the arrival of Marcus Rashford in Barcelona. Being back under the 1:1 rule, Barça can spend every euro it earns on strengthening its team. Considering that the operation with Al-Ittihad could close at around 5 million euros, a significant space could be made to register the English player.
Despite this important sale, the truth is that, according to Madrid-Barcelona, Barça would still need a bit more space for Rashford. It is not an easy move due to his high salary in Manchester. The English player, however, is willing to make a financial effort to wear the blaugrana jersey, as this is his priority.
What Marcus Rashford is clear about is that he prioritizes the option of Barcelona over any other interested party. All parties are informed, and the plan is clear: to close a loan for the remainder of the season. There would be no purchase option or anything of the sort.