Barcelona have reportedly been keeping tabs on an exciting wonderkid as a potential replacement for Marcus Rashford. The English forward's Barcelona adventure is fast turning into one of football’s most surprising redemption arcs. With three goals and five assists in just ten games, Rashford is finally playing with the freedom and confidence that deserted him in Manchester.
Rashford reborn in Spain!
Rashford's swagger is back, his finishing is crisp, and his smile, once buried under the weight of Old Trafford’s chaos, is shining again at Camp Nou. Having endured two miserable final seasons at United, finishing eighth and 15th, Rashford now looks like a man reborn. But behind the scenes, Barcelona are already thinking ahead. While Rashford’s form has thrilled the Catalan faithful, Deco and his recruitment team are quietly tracking a teenage prodigy, Cardoso Varela, the 16-year-old left-footed winger lighting up Dinamo Zagreb, as reported by
Villarreal-Barcelona in Miami: Pre-sale Oct. 21Ticket accessAdvertisementImago ImagesBarca’s future plan, wonderkid in the wings
The young Portuguese talent, a former Porto academy starlet, has caught the eye of Europe’s elite after a string of dazzling performances for both Dinamo’s first team and Portugal’s youth sides. Sources in Spain claim that Barca’s sporting department has been following him “closely for months.” In fact, Varela was even spotted at Barcelona’s Ciutat Esportiva de Sant Joan Despí training complex last year before signing with Dinamo Zagreb, a hint that the Catalan club’s interest isn’t new.
Fast, fearless, and technically gifted, he’s drawn comparisons to a young Cristiano Ronaldo for his explosive style and ability to torment defenders. Barça insiders say he could be available for around £5 million (€5.8m); a relative bargain given his potential ceiling. Varela recently met with Deco in Croatia, accompanied by his agent Andy Bara, who also represents Dani Olmo. That connection could prove decisive. Deco has a strong relationship with Bara, and Barça hope that rapport will give them a head start if competition heats up, because Chelsea are also circling, ready to swoop if the Catalans hesitate. Varela is under contract with Dinamo until June 2028, but his growing fame suggests he won’t stay there that long.
Rashford’s fate hangs in the balance
For now, everything hinges on Rashford’s trajectory. Barcelona hold a €30m (£26m/$35m) purchase option in his loan deal from Manchester United, an absolute bargain if he continues this kind of form. Sources at Camp Nou say Barca’s sporting leadership wants to wait until season’s end before deciding whether to trigger that clause. If Rashford keeps delivering, they’ll take up the option without hesitation. But if his form dips, Varela could become Plan B. Sporting director Deco has already made his feelings known, and they’re glowing.
He said: "It's too early to talk about decisions for next season, but what matters is that we're happy with him. What we thought he could bring to us, he's bringing. He's a very high-level player. He exploded very early, then he had great seasons at United, then he had years of more complicated management with changes of coaches, and perhaps he struggled too because they demanded a lot of things from him there. But we're happy with him – that's the most important thing.
"These aren't decisions for now. Now it's time to focus on the games to come. A decision will be made, but that's not being discussed right now. There's a contract between the clubs but it has to be discussed."
Manager Hansi Flick is just as enthusiastic. After Rashford’s stunning brace against Newcastle in the Champions League, the German tactician couldn’t hold back his admiration.
"I am not surprised [by his goals]. I think he's a fantastic player. His skills are unbelievable and his finishing is unbelievable," he said. "I think also in the first half, he tried to create chances, but the finishing wasn't there. In the second half it was.
"For a striker, it's always good to score. I am really happy. He is an important player. When we spoke before the season about what we needed in the team, we felt we needed a player like him. When we had this chance [to sign him], I said we have to do it. He's an outstanding player."
GettyThe road ahead: El Clasico looming
Barcelona face a brutal run of fixtures: Girona in La Liga, Olympiacos in the Champions League, and then the big one, El Clasico at the Bernabeu on October 26. Barca currently trail Real Madrid by just two points after eight matchdays, and in the absence of injured stars Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, Marcus Rashford is expected to play a crucial role in Flick’s attack.