As mentioned before, La Liga sides Barcelona and Real Madrid are far from done in the transfer market, and the former pulled off a coup recently by acquiring Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United.
This move has generated significant interest, with fans and media across the United Kingdom interested to see whether the 27-year-old forward can rejuvenate his professional career in a different environment. Rashford needed this move since he is not part of Ruben Amorim’s plans at Old Trafford. Barcelona will cover the entirety of Rashford’s salary during his 12-month loan after he agreed to take a pay cut.
Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad made La Liga 2025 news for different reasons. Los Rojiblancos are attracting investors from the United States, which could boost their SBOTOP La Liga 2025 odds of contending next season. On the other hand, La Real are looking for their first marquee signing this offseason.
Rashford looks at home at Barcelona
Marcus Rashford hasn’t played for his boyhood club, Manchester United, since last December after he was frozen out of Ruben Amorim’s rotation, so he spent the second half of the 2024-25 campaign at Aston Villa, and the Villans sent him back to Old Trafford after his loan stint.
Barcelona had been looking for attacking reinforcements as preparations for their repeat bid next season. Before acquiring Rashford, the Blaugrana were linked to Xavi Simons and Luis Diaz, but Rashford made the most sense for them financially. The Manchester United academy graduate is the team’s second notable signing after getting Joan Garcia from Espanyol, and he’ll fight for his minutes alongside Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres, and Lamine Yamal.
“What the club stands for means a lot for me. I feel like I’m at home, and a big factor in my choice to come here is because it is a family place and a good place for good players to showcase their skills,” Rashford said in his introductory press conference.
“Another factor is because the conversations I had with (Hansi Flick) were positive. What he did last season was terrific. To lead such a young team to a very successful season and come back to pre-season and still want to do more, it shows me everything I thought I knew about the club and it’s everything I wished. I’m eager to learn the Barcelona way,” he added.
Atletico Madrid could receive financial windfall
The Gil family has been running Atletico Madrid for the past few decades, and recent reports suggest they are open to talks with potential foreign investors. According to Marca, Los Rojiblancos are in talks with private equity firm Apollo Global Management over a potential €2.5 billion investment, which would see the Gil Marin and Enrique Cerezo diluting their stakes.
The primary motivation for the talks has a lot to do with Atletico Madrid’s Parque Metropolitano project. Los Rojiblancos leased a chunk of land near the arena and are redeveloping it with the Madrid Council to build a 20,000-capacity concert venue, a new sports complex, and a watersports venue.
If the investment goes through, not only will Atletico Madrid receive more money, but it’ll also give Apollo Global Management more power in making important club decisions. This could mean more ambitious transfers to revamp their squad, which could threaten the Barcelona-Real Madrid duopoly in La Liga.
Atletico Madrid recently confirmed the €30 million signing of David Hancko from Feyenoord. Before joining Atletico Madrid, the 27-year-old centre-back, who notched 15 goals in 140 games with Feyenoord during his three-year stay, was supposed to move to Al-Nassr, but the Saudi Pro League side pulled the plug on the deal.
Real Sociedad linked with a move for free agent striker
Real Sociedad have made a raft of changes following their 11th-place finish last term. They replaced long-time manager Imanol Alguacil with Sergio Francisco, and the new boss is keen to make moves in the summer transfer window.
La Real’s only notable move thus far was the €70 million sale of Martin Zubimendi to Arsenal. And Takefusa Kubo is the latest La Real star who has been linked with a move away from the club, with Everton knocking on the door. The Japanese winger has a release clause set at €60 million, though Real Sociedad could consider offers in the region of €40 million.
In a strange twist, Real Sociedad have been offered to sign free agent Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The 28-year-old is coming off an underwhelming 2024-25 campaign, registering only three goals and one assist in 26 matches for Everton.
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