Barcelona Make Major Decision After Marcus Rashford’s Debut in Japan
- Marcus Rashford recently made his Barcelona debut, and his first appearance may have forced the club to make a major decision
- The England star's highly anticipated debut lasted 33 minutes, and some said he was given the 'biggest humiliation'
- The England star joined the La Liga champions last week and is hoping to revive his career
Barcelona were forced to make a major decision following Marcus Rashford's debut in Japan.
Source: Getty Images
Barcelona are spending their pre-season tour in Asia after a hugely successful season under German coach Hansi Flick.
They dominated the domestic competition, overcoming bitter rivals Real Madrid to win the Spanish Super Cup, the Copa del Rey, and La Liga.
How did Marcus Rashford perform in Barcelona debut?
Rashford joined Barcelona on loan from Manchester United last week and played 33 minutes on his debut in their 3-1 friendly win over Japanese side Vissel Kobe on July 27.
The England star was brought on in the second half but was later withdrawn more than 10 minutes before the match ended.
It was a bizarre decision from Hansi Flick, but he later explained why.
"Rashford hasn't played that much, and we also wanted to give Gerard Martin 15 minutes because he was playing after his injury," the Barcelona boss said.
Teenager Dro Fernandez replaced Rashford and went on to score Barcelona's third goal.
Defender Eric Garcia scored the opener in the 33rd minute, before Taisei Miyashiro equalised for Vissel Kobe. New signing Roony Bardghji put Barca back ahead before Dro sealed the win.
What decision did Barcelona make after Rashford's debut?
Barcelona normally broadcasts their matches live on their channel, Barca TV, which fans have to pay to watch.
However, there was a huge amount of interest from fans in their match against Vissel Kobe, potentially due to Rashford's first appearance for the club, per Sportbible.
Moreover, the club reportedly 'received a large attack' from pages trying to capture the feed.
As a result, the report adds, Barcelona have decided to provide their final two friendly matches in Asia free of charge on their YouTube channel. Barcelona said they will compensate subscribers who couldn't watch.
"The Club would like to apologise to its members and fans around the world because the service didn't reach the required standards for the Institution and wants to ensure that those problems don't reoccur. Furthermore, FC Barcelona will soon begin to compensate the fans who couldn't watch the game.
Source: Getty Images
What next for Barcelona?
Barcelona will face FC Seoul on July 31 and take on Daegu on August to conclude their tour of Japan and South Korea.
They will play Como in the 2025 Joan Gamper Trophy on August 9.
The La Liga champions will face Mallorca in their opening game of the season on August 16.
Rashford's take on Ronaldo vs Messi
In a related report, we covered Rashford’s opinion on the ongoing Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo GOAT debate.
Although Rashford played 39 matches alongside Ronaldo, he believes Messi is the greatest player of all time.
Rashford had several encounters with the World Cup winner in the Champions League and will now join Messi at Barcelona.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
