Marcus Rashford’s La Liga Debut in Jeopardy as Barcelona Face Registration Hurdles
Marcus Rashford, 27, has made a flying start to his Barcelona career, but a storm is brewing off the pitch that could see him sidelined from La Liga action this season. The England forward—who joined the Catalan giants this summer after a stint at Aston Villa—may be barred from competitive league matches due to unresolved player registration issues.
After a difficult spell at Manchester United, Rashford found renewed form in Spain, netting his first goal in a pre-season friendly against Daegu. Slotted in as the central striker to replace Robert Lewandowski, his performance has generated excitement among fans and confidence from manager Hansi Flick. But before Rashford can shine in official matches, Barcelona must navigate La Liga’s strict financial rules.
The club’s ongoing financial struggles have repeatedly complicated the registration of new players. Even high-profile arrivals like Dani Olmo faced uncertainty before the club managed to exploit a legal loophole to complete his registration. Rashford’s case mirrors this situation—he’s one of six players yet to be officially registered, alongside Joan Garcia, Wojciech Szczesny, Roony Bardghji, Gerard Martín, and Marc Bernal.
If the situation isn’t resolved by the August 16 league opener against Mallorca, Rashford will be limited to training sessions and non-competitive matches. League action would remain off-limits until the club finds a solution.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta insists progress is being made, telling ESPN:
“It’s progressing well. We’re doing our job and we’re confident that we’ll be able to register everyone.”
Rashford himself is staying calm and focused:
“It’s something for the club to sort out. I believe they are going to get it sorted. I just focus on training and being ready for the start of the season.”
To make room under their wage bill, reports suggest Barcelona might need to offload Marc Casado—valued at €30 million—a move the midfielder is reportedly reluctant to accept. The clock is ticking, with the Joan Gamper Trophy looming this Sunday, and fans anxiously awaiting official confirmation that their new No. 9 will be ready for competitive action.
