Marcus Rashford: Why he may have to wait for Barcelona debut

Barcelona and their finances have been the subject of intense debate for a number of years.

To crunch it down, La Liga regulations mean that until they can get £100m worth of revenue connected to VIP seats in the Nou Camp signed off – they were not ready in time so missed the date they were hoping for – they cannot spend everything they raise from player exits.

Barca are active in the transfer market – Ansu Fati has joined Monaco on loan and Clement Lenglet has left for Atletico Madrid – so they are creating space. But they are not there yet with the VIP seats.

Barcelona, Marcus Rashford and his advisers, and even La Liga, feel this will be done before the transfer window closes. But, until that is completed, Rashford cannot be registered to play in competitive games.

Barcelona’s competitive games effectively start with the La Liga season, beginning with a trip to Real Mallorca on 16 August.

In the meantime, Rashford can be unveiled, train and play in friendlies. That is how he is able to go to Japan and South Korea later this month.

He will also be able to play against Italian side Como in the Joan Gamper Trophy on 10 August, which is being held at the Estadi Johan Cruyff – where Barca’s women’s team plays.

But, after that, he needs to be registered. Rashford can only hope Barca’s finance chiefs get their economics right.