Barcelona Considers Former Player Ez Abde as Marcus Rashford Alternative

Beyond their search for a new centre-back and striker, Barcelona also faces a crucial decision regarding Marcus Rashford this summer. The Manchester United loanee's permanent move to Spotify Camp Nou appears increasingly improbable. Should a new loan agreement prove elusive, Barcelona will need to secure a suitable replacement for the wing.

Recent reports have linked Barcelona with several potential wing targets, including Andreas Schjelderup, Jan Virgili, and Victor Munoz. Now, a new name has reportedly joined this shortlist of alternatives to Rashford. According to ESPN, Ez Abde, a former player, is another left winger garnering interest from the La Liga leaders ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

Abde first arrived at Barcelona in the summer of 2021, spending two years with the club before his transfer to Real Betis for €7.5 million. Barcelona initially retained 50% of his economic rights, a figure that was later reduced to 20% last year. This adjustment was part of an agreement facilitating Vitor Roque's early termination of his loan spell at Betis to join Palmeiras.

Following a relatively modest start in his first couple of seasons at Betis, Abde has truly found his form during the 2025-26 campaign. He has recorded nine goals and seven assists across all competitions, establishing himself as a key player on the left wing for Manuel Pellegrini's team.

Barcelona's Buy-Back Option for Abde Has Expired

The 2023 agreement with Betis included two buy-back clauses for Abde, granting Barcelona the option to re-sign him for €20 million or €25 million. However, both of these clauses have since expired in 2024 and 2025, respectively. This means that if Barcelona wishes to bring him back to Spotify Camp Nou, they will now need to negotiate a full transfer fee, though they will still benefit from a 20% saving due to their retained economic rights from the renegotiated deal last year.

It remains to be seen if Barcelona will intensify their pursuit of Abde in the coming weeks. He could offer valuable competition alongside Raphinha. However, the Catalan club might face competition from Paris Saint-Germain, who have also been linked with the Moroccan international.