FC Barcelona remain in the midst of a financial crisis, which has significantly impacted their transfer strategy over the past few seasons. And just like in recent years, they head into the 2025-26 campaign with issues revolving around player registration.
Last season, it was Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor who were given temporary permits to play in La Liga through the month of December before the Consejo Superior de Deportes approved both players’ registrations for the remainder of the campaign.
This year, the club still need to register five players for the upcoming season before the Sept. 1 deadline. Among those players — a list that includes two contributors from last year (Gerard Martín and Wojciech Szczęsny) and two new signings (Joan García from RCD Espanyol and Roony Bardghji from FC Copenhagen) — is Marcus Rashford, Barcelona’s highest-profile addition this summer.
Despite the recent troubles Barcelona have experienced with player registration, Rashford told reporters he is not worried about missing La Liga games because of it.
“It’s something for the club to sort out,” Rashford said in a video posted on Spanish newspaper Sport’s website on Aug. 3. “I believe they are going to get it sorted. I just focus on training and be ready for the start of the season.”
Rashford, who is still under contract at parent club Manchester United, made his move to Barcelona official on July 23. It marked his second loan stint of the year, as the Red Devils sent Rashford on loan to Aston Villa for the remainder of the 2024-25 Premier League season in early February. This time around, he will be with Barcelona for the full 2025-26 campaign.
Soon after his loan went official, Rashford joined the squad on its Asia Tour. He made his debut for the Blaugrana in a 45-minute stint against FC Seoul on July 31 and then scored his first goal against Daegu FC four days later.
Barcelona still have one more match on their summer calendar — a Joan Gamper Trophy exhibition match against Como. But after weeks of preseason training and friendlies, Rashford is excited for the season to come.
“It’s been a good preseason. It’s been good to integrate into the team. I’ve enjoyed getting used to the team, used to the coach,” Rashford said, via ESPN’s Adriana Garcia. “There is a lot of great players, but I knew that before I came here. The quality is very high, the intensity is very high, and this is what we need to continue having throughout the season.
“Hopefully, we can go one step further than last season and win the Champions League.”
