Marcus Rashford landed in Barcelona with an undisputed label: established Premier League star. His speed, his ability to unbalance defenses, and the goal-scoring ability he showed in England make him a top-level addition. However, just a few weeks after his arrival, a certain unease is already noticeable in the locker room.
The memory of recent cases is still very present among the culés and doesn't help to calm things down. Joao Félix arrived with huge expectations and left without leaving any mark. At Barça, quality and talent are not enough if they're not accompanied by consistency and sacrifice.
The ghost of Joao Félix looms
Comparisons are inevitable and Rashford knows that he'll be under scrutiny from day one. Joao Félix was also welcomed as the piece that could revolutionize the culé attack. But in the end, he became an example that talent without commitment has no place at Barça.
In England, Rashford showed that he could be decisive in important matches and score crucial goals. However, his inconsistency has been pointed out on multiple occasions by the press and coaches. Now, the big question is whether in Barcelona he can make a competitive leap in terms of consistency.
The demands at Barça are unlike those of other top European teams. Here, constant focus, defensive commitment, and aggressiveness throughout the ninety minutes are demanded. Flick doesn't tolerate any relaxation and has been very clear in public: whoever drops the intensity, to the bench.
Rashford will have to compete from the start
The culé attacking outlook doesn't guarantee automatic starting spots for the English forward. Lamine Yamal has established himself as a reference point and Raphinha has started the season at a very high level. Even Ferran Torres has surprised with a goal-scoring start that puts him in the fight for minutes.
That's why Rashford will have to adapt quickly to a context where no one has privileges. Flick values solidarity and collective sacrifice as much as dribbling or spectacular goals. The Englishman will have to show intensity in every training session and every match to justify the club's bet.
The German coach doesn't want a repeat of what happened with players who lived off occasional flashes. He knows that in Barcelona patience with signings is short and criticism is always ruthless. If Rashford doesn't get involved, he risks losing his place in the squad much sooner than expected.
The locker room is watching him closely
Within the team, they're aware of the enormous quality Rashford has and what he can contribute. But there's also a sense that they need to see real commitment before they fully trust him. They don't want the story to end with another disappointment that excites in the summer and disappoints in the spring.
The locker room leaders have already conveyed that intensity is non-negotiable in every training session. None of them will tolerate complacent attitudes or a lack of sacrifice at a key moment in the season. Rashford has the opportunity to prove with actions that he's ready for such a demanding challenge.
The player himself, meanwhile, assures that he feels motivated and eager to succeed. He has conveyed confidence in his first statements and promises to work to earn a place among the best. Camp Nou will welcome him with excitement, but the credit will be short if he doesn't back it up with consistent performances.
A challenge of maximum demand
Rashford faces a huge challenge: going from an intermittent star in Manchester to an absolute reference in Barcelona. To do so, he'll have to keep his competitive hunger, continuity, and above all, character in the most demanding moments of the season. If he manages to adapt, he can become a signing that defines an era at the blaugrana club.
If he doesn't, his name could end up on the list of talents who never met expectations. At Can Barça, the alarm is on, because the Englishman has everything except time to convince. Now it's his turn to show that he hasn't come to leave flashes, but to make a difference every week.