Manchester United reportedly made an ambitious move to convince FC Barcelona to make Marcus Rashford’s transfer permanent by attempting to include young midfielder Marc Bernal in the negotiations, according to a report from Spain.

Despite Rashford contributing 14 goals and 14 assists as Barcelona reclaimed the La Liga title, the Catalan club decided not to activate the £26 million buy option that would have made his stay at Camp Nou permanent. Over several months, the two clubs were engaged in lengthy discussions, with Barcelona hoping to renegotiate the fee or agree on a fresh loan arrangement to ease their financial situation.

United, however, held firm on their stance, repeatedly insisting that Barcelona would either have to pay the agreed amount or allow Rashford to return to Old Trafford, where he would be placed on the transfer list.

With the 15 June deadline for a permanent deal now expired, Rashford’s time in Spain has officially come to an end. The 28-year-old is currently representing England at the World Cup, where the Three Lions are set to face Argentina in the semi-final tonight. Once the tournament concludes, he will rejoin Michael Carrick’s Manchester United squad for pre-season preparations.

Though Rashford is believed to still favour a return to Barcelona, the club’s recent acquisitions of Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi have made the prospect of signing another winger unlikely. Meanwhile, other clubs showing interest include Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bayern Munich, Newcastle United, and Tottenham Hotspur.

While earlier reports suggested that United’s management had refused to renegotiate with Barcelona, new information indicates that the situation may have been more complex.

The Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reports that United “inquired” about the possibility of signing Marc Bernal, Barcelona’s 19-year-old defensive midfielder. The club is said to have even proposed including Bernal in a swap deal for Rashford, but the youngster was not interested in a move to Old Trafford.

According to sources cited by Mundo Deportivo, “Manchester United agreed to discuss Marcus Rashford’s transfer, who had a €30 million release clause with Barça, on one condition: that Marc Bernal be part of the deal.”

However, the article adds, “Barcelona rejected the idea outright, and the player himself distanced from any potential move. Bernal is certain his future lies with Barça and has no intention of playing anywhere else but in the Blaugrana colours.”

Bernal reportedly held discussions with new Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick, who assured him that he would play an important role in the team next season. This reassurance convinced the young Spaniard to stay, choosing to continue his development at the club where he came through the famous La Masia academy.

The 19-year-old, who has earned one cap for Spain, is highly rated as a defensive midfielder. Standing at 6’4”, Bernal combines strong technical ability with sharp defensive awareness, drawing comparisons to Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets for his composure under pressure and ability to evade opposition pressing.

Manchester United’s interest in Bernal stemmed from their need for a commanding presence in midfield following Casemiro’s departure. The club’s new ownership group, INEOS, identified Bernal as a potential value signing who could fill that gap effectively. However, their attempts to secure a deal proved unsuccessful. Rashford, along with his substantial contract, will now return to Old Trafford, while Bernal remains committed to Barcelona.