Rivaldo makes one thing clear to Marcus Rashford after Barcelona move – 'I don't see any chance'

Rivaldo has warned Marcus Rashford he will not take Raphinha's starting spot in the Barcelona line-up this season. After yearning for a move to the La Liga giants all summer, Rashford finally got his dream switch last month, albeit on a season-long loan with a £26million option to buy.

While Rashford will be remembered as one of United's great academy graduates, his tenure at Old Trafford looks all but finished while Ruben Amorim is at the helm. The 27-year-old fell out of favour under the Portuguese tactician midway through last season, subsequently being sent out on loan to Aston Villa.

With it clear that he was still no part of Amorim's plans upon his return earlier this summer, Rashford then began pushing for another move away from the club, with Barcelona ultimately securing his services after missing out on Athletic Club's Nico Williams and Liverpool's Luis Diaz.

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While Rashford will be eager to hit the ground running in Spain, Rivaldo has warned that he will not start ahead of superstar Raphinha. Speaking to Betfair, the 53-year-old, who played for Barcelona between 1997 and 2002, said: "I think that’s highly unlikely that Rashford will take Raphinha’s spot, especially after the season Raphinha had last year.

"In my view, Raphinha is currently among the top five players in the world. Right now, he’s an undisputed starter at Barca and already a club icon. Everyone, the players, the coaching staff, the whole club rates him very highly.

"What he did last season was outstanding, so without a doubt, that position is his. Of course, it’s always good to have top-quality players around you.

"So yes, there will be competition, but I don’t think Rashford is going to take Raphinha’s place. Other opportunities will arise, and with training, the manager will likely find a way to fit them both into the team. But for me, Raphinha is a nailed-on starter. I don’t see any chance of him being dropped from Barca’s starting line-up."

Rivaldo also explained Rashford may have to be patient for his opportunity, and he may find himself starting off the bench as the season gets underway. He added: "When a player leaves a club in a tough situation, like he did, and joins a team like Barcelona, it’s only natural that the coach will use training sessions and the first few matches to get a better look at him.

"Barcelona had a great season last year, so it’s normal for him to start off on the bench. I believe that little by little, he’ll find his rhythm, start to understand how the manager wants the team to play, get used to the training routines, and gradually settle in.

"Over time, he’ll earn his spot. He’s a hugely talented player – he’s already proven that in one of the toughest leagues in the world. He’s also an international. So, I fully expect him to earn a place in Barca’s starting eleven and re-establish himself as a regular in the England squad too."

With 34 goals and 25 assists to his name across all competitions last season, Raphinha was instrumental to Barcelona clinching the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de España. And under contract until 2028, it is thought that the 28-year-old Brazilian will retain his place in Hansi Flick's starting XI in the fresh campaign.

Rashford made his unofficial Barcelona debut in a pre-season friendly against Vissel Kobe last month, coming on as a substitute for Raphinha at half time. However, he lasted just 30 minutes before he was replaced by Pedro Fernandez Sarmiento.

While the incident came across as somewhat embarrassing for Rashford, Flick was quick to explain that the move was to manage his fitness. After the match, he said: "We're being very careful with Marcus because he just came from an injury and he hasn't started training completely with the ball. He's a week behind the others. He hasn't been training as much with the ball, and we want to look after him."

Rashford returned to the fray on Thursday for Barcelona's 7-3 drubbing of FC Seoul, once again coming on for the second half as a replacement for Raphinha. However, on that occasion, he lasted the full 45 minutes, even assisting Ferran Torres' 88th-minute strike to cap off the victory.

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