Barcelona manager Hansi Flick believes Marcus Rashford is benefiting from a change of scenery – including sunny skies in Spain – following his move from boyhood club Manchester United.
The England forward has recovered from the flu that kept him out of Saturday’s 4-0 La Liga win over Athletic Bilbao and is available for Tuesday’s meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Four of Rashford’s six Barca goals so far have come in the Champions League, including two on the team’s previous visit to England against Newcastle in September.
The move to Spain has helped 28-year-old Rashford revive a career that had seriously stalled at Old Trafford.
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«I’m happy to have him in the team and to play for Barcelona,» Flick said on Monday. “I have followed him throughout his career and I have always been impressed by his quality and what he can do in the penalty area, and he is showing that in Barcelona.
«That change for him, new football, in Barcelona, with good weather. For me it’s incredible to see how he’s always smiling. That’s the atmosphere we have, and it’s very good for him.»
Barca and Chelsea are level on seven points after four games in this season’s Champions League as they seek direct qualification to the last 16, which requires a top eight finish.
Flick’s job will be aided by the return from injury of Raphinha, who appeared as a substitute in Saturday’s win for the first time in almost two months.
“Step by step with Raphinha,” Flick said. «For me the most important thing is that he is back. We will decide about the minutes and how much he will play.»
“He has had the same injury twice and that is not good at this stage, so we will be careful.
«I’m very happy that he returns because as soon as he played on Saturday we saw the difference. The dynamism, he created spaces and I’m very happy to have him.»
Published on November 25, 2025