FC Barcelona achieved a key victory against Deportivo Alavés in Montjuïc. Hansi Flick's team won 1-0 in a match they needed to win to stay in the fight for LaLiga. However, the joy of the victory was overshadowed by unexpected news.
Fabrizio Romano, the go-to journalist in the transfer market, dropped a bomb just before the match.
A Key Match for the League
Barça came to this match with the obligation to win. Real Madrid had surprisingly lost against Espanyol, which opened an opportunity to get closer in the standings. Flick lined up his team with the usual strikers: Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Lewandowski.
The match was more complicated than expected. Alavés defended with order and managed to close the spaces to Barça. However, a goal by Robert Lewandowski in the second half was enough to earn three valuable points.
Despite the victory, the fans couldn't fully celebrate. The news of the day wasn't on the field, but in the offices.
Fabrizio Romano Confirms the Goodbye
For weeks, Hansi Flick was clear that he needed a reinforcement for the forward line. The load of minutes on Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, and Lewandowski is enormous. Moreover, Ansu Fati still doesn't count for the German coach, which leaves very few options in attack.
Marcus Rashford was the name everyone at Barça wanted, the Englishman had requested to leave Manchester United, and Barça was his preferred choice. Fabrizio Romano reported a few days ago that the Catalan club was negotiating with United. However, there was a problem: the lack of salary space.
Barça can only sign if they sell, as they are governed by LaLiga's 1:1 rule. This means that to register Rashford, someone had to leave. The most viable option was the sale of Ansu Fati, but the Spanish winger has refused to leave.
Without that departure, Rashford's signing became impossible. Meanwhile, Romano has confirmed that the English forward has decided his future.
He's Going to Aston Villa
The blow for Barça has been hard. Just before the match against Alavés, Romano dropped the bomb: Marcus Rashford is going to Aston Villa.
The English forward is undergoing a medical and will sign in the coming hours. A missed opportunity for Barça, who see one of the players Flick most desired slip away.
For the German coach, the situation is complicated. He was counting on Rashford to strengthen the squad for the final stretch of the season. Without him, he will have to continue relying on the same players, with the risk that an injury could complicate the team's plans.
What Will Barça Do Now?
The transfer market closes in a few hours, and Barça's options are dwindling. Without Rashford, the blaugrana board might attempt to sign João Félix.
The Portuguese still doesn't fully convince Flick, but he is the only realistic alternative at this moment. The decision will depend on what Deco and Joan Laporta can do in the coming hours.
Meanwhile, Barça celebrates a hard-fought victory against Alavés, but with the feeling that the winter market isn't going as they expected.