Amad Diallo breaks silence on Marcus Rashford as Manchester United star prepares to join Barcelona

Manchester United star Amad Diallo has wished Marcus Rashford luck for his impending loan move to Barcelona. However, the Ivorian also asserted that he was focused on his team instead of the Englishman's reported transfer.

The Red Devils played out a 0-0 draw against Leeds United at the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm on Saturday, July 19. After the game, the 23-year-old was asked about Rashford's transfer to La Blaugrana. Diallo told the Manchester Evening News:

"Well, the only thing I can say is good luck to him, but I'm more focused on United and my team."

United are reportedly close to agreeing a season-long loan deal for Rashford with Barcelona. The Spanish giants will have the option to buy Rashford permanently, and they will also cover the Englishman's wages.

Rashford fell in United's pecking order following the arrival of Ruben Amorin in November. The relationship between the two became bitter after Rashford was dropped from the squad during the Manchester derby in December last year.

The Englishman was later benched and dropped for consecutive games before he joined Aston Villa on a loan deal in January. Marcus Rashford got a promising start at Villa, but his season ended early due to a hamstring injury.

According to multiple reports, United initially wanted to facilitate a permanent move for the 27-year-old, while Barcelona wanted to sign the Englishman on a loan due to his steep fee. Nevertheless, he still has three years remaining on his contract at Old Trafford.

Manchester United interested in signing Barcelona target: Reports

According to Caught Offside, Manchester United are interested in signing Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand this summer. The Danish midfielder has also been linked to Barcelona, Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur.

Hjulmand, who joined the Portuguese giants from Lecce in August 2023, has solidified his place as a holding midfielder in the team while also taking up the leadership role. The Danish midfielder has made 96 appearances for Sporting across all competitions, scoring seven goals and providing six assists.

Hjulmand's consistency and defensive prowess have made him a transfer target for multiple top European sides. The 26-year-old reportedly has a release clause of €80 million, but Sporting are expected to accept offers around €50 million.

While Manchester United seek a replacement for Casemiro, Ruben Amorim has already managed Hjulmand during his time at Sporting.

About the author

Shashank is a journalist at Sportskeeda covering European football since the past 2 years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and has also played the sport as a box-to-box midfielder and a full-back at national level, along with Tennis, Taekwondo and Boxing.

Shashank has been a Liverpool supporter since 2014 and had first stumbled upon the club after receiving a gift which had the words 'Liverpool FC' written on it. He has idolised Steven Gerrard over the years but his favorite football memory is the Reds' incredible comeback 4-0 win over Barcelona in the 2019 Champions League semis. He, unsurprisingly, also loves Jurgen Klopp's managerial style.

He strives to report 100% accurate content by going through several social media platforms, and prides himself on his above-average vocabulary and researching skills. In his career so far, Shashank has had the privilege of interviewing Indian national football team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

Shashank also follows the Indian Super League and the Eredivisie along with European Football. In his off time, he likes to do theatre, watch Tennis, and travel.

Know More

Edited by Sankalp Srivastava