Barcelona’s summer business is grabbing headlines for more than just footballing reasons. While fans and pundits have largely celebrated the club’s capture of Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United, reports suggest that one of their brightest young stars, Lamine Yamal, is not entirely pleased. According to El Nacional, the teenager is “angry” with club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco, citing what some are calling a “bizarre” reason for his frustration.
After weeks of silence, Barcelona officially unveiled Marcus Rashford as their new forward on Wednesday, with the English international participating in his first open training session at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. Clad in the famous Blaugrana shirt, the Englishman trained alongside his new teammates under Hansi Flick, as the club ramped up preparations for their Asia tour, which includes fixtures in Japan and South Korea.
The 27-year-old joins Barcelona on a season-long loan deal, with an option to buy for $35 million next summer. Barcelona will also cover Rashford’s full salary, signaling both their financial confidence in the deal and their immediate need for attacking reinforcement.
Yamal’s reported discontent surfaces
However, beneath the positive atmosphere of Rashford’s presentation, tensions have reportedly surfaced behind the scenes. According to El Nacional, 18-year-old Lamine Yamal has privately expressed his anger at both Laporta and Deco following the unexpected arrival of the England international.
Yamal, considered by many as the future of Barca and already a key player in the first team, was reportedly “promised that Nico Williams would be the only winger the club would pursue this summer.” The Athletic Club star, who recently signed a new contract in Bilbao, is one of Yamal’s close friends.
“Yamal believes Barcelona’s board did not do enough to convince Nico Williams to join,” the report states, adding that the young forward felt kept in the dark about the Rashford transfer.
The teenager is said to be particularly upset because this conflicted with an earlier request he made when signing his own contract extension, in which he asked the club to pursue Williams as a potential partner in attack. His frustration reportedly escalated when Rashford’s signing was completed without any prior notice to him.
Rashford-Yamal dynamic: From tension to potential?
Ironically, Rashford has been full of praise for Yamal, calling him “potentially the best player in the world.” Their on-field chemistry will now be under scrutiny, especially given that both players are expected to compete for starting roles in Flick’s attacking rotation, alongside Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski.
For Rashford, this loan represents a vital opportunity to revive his career after a difficult period at Manchester United and a brief loan spell at Aston Villa. The Carrington graduate brings with him a respectable record: 138 goals and 77 assists in 426 appearances, along with two FA Cups and a Europa League.