A change in environment at Barcelona ignited Marcus Rashford's career. Discover how the Catalan club's demanding culture transformed his perspective and performances.
In his column for The Sun, former Premier League striker Deeney pointed out the marked difference in Rashford's dedication since he exchanged the Premier League for La Liga, stating that the environment at Camp Nou has forced him to make a very necessary change in his professional perspective. Rashford has thrived in Spain so far, scoring 10 goals for Barca in all competitions since his loan move to the Catalan team.
According to Deeney, the transition from being the poster boy of a struggling Manchester United to being just another face in the crowd at Barcelona has been the catalyst for Rashford's resurgence.
He believes this change was essential, and the former Birmingham striker claims: "By moving away from a club where he was a major figure, the message at Barcelona will have been clear: 'We couldn't care less about Marcus Rashford, we had Lionel Messi here not long ago.' They don't care what he thinks, what he wears, or what he does: he is there to prove he is worthy of playing for that club."
Barcelona's coaching staff apparently made it clear to Rashford that there is no leeway for those who do not adhere to collective norms. Deeney highlighted how this change forced the English striker to adapt: "It shows you can't just do whatever you want... Either you adapt to Barcelona, or you don't play.
Barcelona has made it clear to Rashford that 'this is how we do things here.' If you adapt, you will get your reward: you will play for Barcelona, you will score goals, and you will go to the World Cup with England."
With the World Cup just around the corner, Rashford's performances have put him back in the initial conversation for Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions. Comparing him to Newcastle's Anthony Gordon, Deeney adds, "And if England started their World Cup campaign next week, I would start him on the left side.
If we go purely on statistics, Gordon would start. But if we watch the matches and look at the attitude of both players, then it has to be Rashford."
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