Barcelona Eyes Former Player Ez Abde as Marcus Rashford Alternative

Beyond securing a new centre-back and striker, Barcelona also faces the challenge of addressing the Marcus Rashford situation this summer. The Manchester United loanee appears increasingly unlikely to make his move permanent at Spotify Camp Nou. If a new loan agreement cannot be reached, the Catalan giants will be compelled to find a replacement.

In recent weeks, names like Andreas Schjelderup, Jan Virgili, and Victor Munoz have surfaced as potential targets for Barcelona. Now, according to ESPN, Ez Abde has been added to this list of possible Rashford replacements. The La Liga leaders are reportedly keen on the former player ahead of the summer transfer window.

Abde first joined Barcelona in the summer of 2021, spending two years in Catalonia before his transfer to Real Betis for €7.5 million. Barcelona initially retained 50% of his rights, a figure that was later reduced to 20% last year. This adjustment was part of an agreement that allowed Vitor Roque to terminate his loan spell at Los Verdiblancos early and join Palmeiras.

Following a somewhat subdued initial couple of seasons at Betis, Abde has truly come into his own during the 2025-26 campaign. He has impressively contributed nine goals and seven assists across all competitions, solidifying his role as a key offensive force on the left wing for Manuel Pellegrini's squad.

Barcelona's Buy-Back Clause for Abde Has Expired

As part of the 2023 agreement with Betis, Barcelona had secured two buy-back options for Abde. However, both clauses, which would have allowed them to re-sign him for €20 million or €25 million, expired in 2024 and 2025 respectively. This means Barcelona will now need to pay the full market price to bring him back to Spotify Camp Nou, although they will still benefit from a 20% saving due to the retained rights from last year's re-negotiated deal.

It will be interesting to monitor whether Barcelona intensifies their pursuit of Abde in the coming weeks. He would undoubtedly offer excellent competition for Raphinha, but the club may face strong competition from Paris Saint-Germain, who have also been linked with the talented Moroccan international.