After powering Barcelona to the La Liga title, the rejuvenated forward is reportedly sacrificing 40% of his wages to turn his successful loan into a permanent stay.
Marcus Rashford's season-long loan at Barcelona has been nothing short of a success as the Englishman has quickly become a key player in Spain.
Rashford has secured 14 goals and 14 assists so far this season, including a title-winning free-kick in El Clásico as Barcelona cemented themselves as the 2025/26 La Liga champions.
Following his six-month loan at Aston Villa last season, Barca came knocking in the summer and agreed on a loan deal with a buy option of £26 million. A fee which has proven to be troublesome for Barcelona, as the Spanish giants have attempted to navigate around the fee into a cheaper alternative.
With the summer transfer window looming, Rashford has made a huge personal call, which may sway the tides in the direction of staying in the iconic blue and red at Camp Nou.
Rashford willing to take pay cut to stay at Barca
After speculation over a second loan or a cheaper fee, Barcelona's insistence on finding a cheaper solution has led Rashford to make a decision to assist his club in making the move permanent.
Mundo Deportivo have reported: "Months ago, Rashford already agreed to a three-year personal contract with Barça in case he stayed, which included a significant pay cut.
"At the club’s offices, there’s reluctance to pay the £26 million because the amortisation of the transfer fee, including the salary, over those three years is very high.
"The only option the player sees is for Barça to cover the entire transfer fee and, in turn, extend his contract to five seasons (2031-2032) at no additional cost. Rashford has already sacrificed 40% of his salary."
Rashford's parent club believes that the asking price of £26 million is a reasonable enough fee for the 28-year-old, and a wage cut from the player could unlock the financial movement for Barcelona to meet the pre-stated price tag.
Could Rashford return to Carrick's squad?
The initial cause of Rashford's departure from Man United was the tension between himself and Ruben Amorim, as the forward found himself exiled from Match-day squads, ultimately resulting in his first loan to Aston Villa.
Now, Michael Carrick sits at the wheel for United. A manager who is familiar with Rashford both through their time as teammates and as Carrick temporarily took over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2021.
Rashford came through the academy, growing up as both a player and a fan, so the idea of a return could be a reasonable possibility. With United also confirmed to be in next season's Champions League, squad depth will prove to be a key factor if they wish to push across all competition.
Nonetheless, Rashford's performances at Barcelona have certainly warranted a deserved stay at the club, competing alongside the world's best and bringing trophies to his name.