Top News

Barcelona's sporting director Deco has claimed Marcus Rashford had to shoulder too much responsibility "too young" - which ultimately led to his struggles at Manchester United.

The forward, now on loan with the Spanish giants, burst onto the scene as a teenager a decade ago but has been unable to regularly deliver at Old Trafford with his long-term future very much in doubt. He made his debut under Louis van Gaal in 2016 - scoring a brace in Europe.

Rashford's stock rose at a rapid rate but he's already played under five permanent managers in Manchester and, from a young age, was seen as one of the team's leading lights. He was often among the first to be called out when the team fell short, which has been all too regular.

Ruben Amorim appeared to take issue with Rashford's attitude and he's on his second loan spell away from Manchester with Deco claiming he has been forced to take on too much at times whilst the constant upheaval has proven an issue.

He told The Times: “He’s happy with us. Marcus is a fantastic player. He faced the responsibility of becoming an important player at Man United - United, like us, are one of the biggest clubs in the world - too young.

READ MORE: Mason Mount's touching Leny Yoro gesture speaks volumes after Man Utd win

READ MORE: David Beckham makes Ruben Amorim feelings clear after Man Utd takeover claims

"He suffered a bit with this change of generation at United too. If you see United in the last five years, they had difficulties rebuilding the team, to become stronger again. He was there. So it’s not easy for a player [from whom] people demand a lot. When you are an important player, you have a lot of responsibility.

“We were looking for a player like him on the market. A player that could play in the three positions up front. We were able to sign Marcus on loan now because of his desire to play for Barcelona. He waited a lot. He knew that we were dealing with financial rules. But he was patient. He waited and we’re happy to have him.”

It remains to be seen whether Rashford's move to Barcelona will become a permanent one, although there is an option in his loan agreement. Despite an abundance of quality in Catalunya Rashford has still proved a worthwhile addition, scoring an impressive brace on his return to England against Newcastle earlier this season.

The United loanee has scored six times during his loan stint and looks to have rediscovered his form away from Manchester. With his boyhood club he has endured huge highs, including a season where he hit the 30-goal mark, but equally been hammered when things have not gone to plan.

Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.