Marcus Rashford is a new player for FC Barcelona. The Englishman arrives at the club with interesting facts worth knowing. The youngest of less than five siblings and born in Manchester, he leaves Red Devils, a team he has been with since he was seven. A tour with the Mercuneter Devils was only interrupted by a mission to Aston Villa and now, by his arrival at Barça.
1) Caribbean Roots
Although born in Manchester on October 31, 1997, the new addition to Barça has Caribbean roots, as his grandmother is from Saint Kitts and Nevis. He becomes the second player in the current team born in 1997, alongside Frenkie de Jong.
2) From Goalkeeper to Forward
Rashford started in the world of football as a goalkeeper. He began defending the goal for the amateur club in Mercuneter, Fletcher Moss Rangers, at just five years old.
3) Double Debut
Trained in the ranks of Manchester United since the age of 7, the English forward made his dream debut on February 25, 2016, wearing the Red Devils’ shirt. Under the leadership of Louis Van Gaal, he played in a Europa League match against Midtjyland and scored a brace. Just three days later, not content with his European debut, he made his first appearance in the Premier League with another brace; this time against Arsenal.
4) Top 5 Record Breaker
Precocity also marked Marcus Rashford’s career. An early quality he has shown both at Manchester United and in the English team. In the summer of 2016, he participated in the Eurocup held in France. In the Round of 16, Rashford left his mark with a goal that Lamine Yamal recently surpassed at 16 years and 354 days.
Then, the new meeting player, after participating in the group stage, rounded off his first Eurocup with absolute playing minutes in the Round of 16 against Iceland in Nice, at just 18 years and 240 days. An achievement that places him among the top 5 youngest players to challenge a Eurocup knockout stage.
5) A Goal against Barça
He faced a total of four times against his new team: twice in the Champions League and twice in the Europa League, all wearing the United shirt. In these encounters, he scored a goal, in the first leg of the Europa League play-off at Camp Nou.
6) A New Englishman at FC Barcelona
No English player had worn the shirt of the 36-time champions. From Gary Lineker, who defended the colors of Barça from 1986 to 1989, no British footballer had joined the first men’s team.
7) Tenth Match against Barça and United
Mark Hughes, Laurent White, Larsson,
8) Thanks for Social Work
He is an Honorary Doctor at the University of Manchester and has also received a Medal of the Order of the British Empire. All this for his beneficial work in the fight to ensure free school meals for disadvantaged children in the UK. In 2020, he received the medal recognizing him as a member of the Order of the British Empire. In 2021, he received the highest honor from the university, being the youngest recipient of an honorary title granted by the University of Manchester.
9) Author of a Book
Undoubtedly, Marcus Rashford is a footballer involved in social issues against childhood hunger, who has promoted changes in British government policies. An example of this is the book he wrote – «You Are a Champion.»
10) Cover of Time Magazine
In 2021, he was included in the list of the 100 most influential people in the world, according to Time magazine, which dedicated a cover featuring him as a reference for social change. Other players who have played and appeared on this cover include Leo Messi, Neymar, Pelé, and Beckham.