Marcus Rashford completed a season-long loan move to Barcelona from Manchester United, and new team-mate Jules Kounde has explained how the forward is settling in
Marcus Rashford’s new Barcelona colleagues have already spotted a personality trait that the striker felt was misjudged during his stint at Manchester United. Rashford completed a season-long loan switch to the La Liga champions, who possess an option to make the transfer permanent.
The 27-year-old clocked up more than 400 outings and claimed five trophies with United before determining that his destiny lay elsewhere from his childhood club. After spending time at Aston Villa last campaign, Rashford is savouring the chance to make his mark at Barcelona.
However, Barcelona defender Jules Kounde has already observed that Rashford appears to be slightly quieter than other members of the squad. The England international previously admitted to feeling misunderstood at times during his United career, having had his character regularly questioned by fans and big-name pundits.
“He’s a bit introverted, but he’s really enjoying himself, and feeling more and more comfortable,” Kounde said of Rashford to Diario Sport. “I think he is happy. He is smiling a lot. He is happy in the field.
“He reminds me a little of myself. He’s a bit introverted, but he’s enjoying himself a lot, and I think he’s feeling more and more comfortable. Everyone has welcomed him very warmly. He’s talking to everyone.
“I think he’s very comfortable. As I speak English, I’m trying to help him as best I can, but I think everyone is doing that.”
Kounde’s remarks mirror what Rashford revealed to journalist Henry Winter last December regarding his personality and how he is perceived: “I do feel misunderstood, but I’m fine with it. I’m a very simple person. I love football. That’s been my life from the beginning.”
That wasn’t the first occasion Rashford had pondered how others view him. The England star described himself as an introvert whilst discussing how he had navigated challenging periods during his time at Old Trafford.
“If I’m honest honest, a part of me doesn’t mind it when people doubt me,” Rashford wrote for The Players’ Tribune in February 2024. “When everyone is telling me they love me, I get suspicious. I know the way the world works. I had to become a man really young. Always had to rely on myself.
“Whenever I’ve been in my darkest of places, and it feels like half the world is against me, I tend to go off by myself for a couple days and reset, and then I’m fine. I think it goes back to me as a kid dribbling all over the street on my own until it was so dark that I couldn’t see the ball anymore and I could hear my mum shouting for me to come home.
“That’s just me being an introvert, needing my space to reset. Other times, when that hasn’t worked, I’ve found someone to talk to.
“Sometimes that’s the way to do it. But every single time I’ve been down, physically or mentally, I always feel like that’s when I turn it around and play my best football for United and England.”
Rashford made his Barcelona debut against Japanese outfit Vissel Kobe last week, coming off the bench for 33 minutes before being substituted. The United loanee most recently came on at half-time during Barcelona’s thrilling 7-3 triumph over FC Seoul on Thursday, setting up the final goal scored by former Manchester City ace Ferran Torres.
During his unveiling as a Barcelona player, Rashford reflected on leaving his boyhood club: “The situation with United is the club is in a period of change and they have been for a while,” he said. “So I don’t have anything bad to say about Manchester United. It’s been an important part of not only my career but my life. I’m grateful for the opportunity to play for them.
“Football is the same as life. Not everything goes as simple as you may have thought. This is my next step and next chapter. I’m fully focused on this and trying to improve myself and help the team win trophies.”
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