Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Barcelona, Marcus Rashford, Manchester United
Josh Lawless
Details on one area Barcelona want Marcus Rashford to improve in have emerged following a debut which saw him substituted on but brought back off.
Rashford joined the Blaugrana earlier this season, signing on loan from Manchester United in a deal that can become permanent for a fee of £30.3 million.
He made a huge impression with his new teammates in early training sessions and El Chiringuito reported that the club's staff were impressed by his physical condition, deeming him to be in "top form" upon arrival.
The 27-year-old made his bow in the 3-1 victory over Japanese side Vissel Kobe and did so as a substitute, coming off the bench to replace Raphinha on the left flank at the Misaki Park Stadium.
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Rashford showed glimpses of his quality with the ball at his feet and played a key role in Barca's second goal when he drove inside and picked out the run of Robert Lewandowski, who set up new signing Roony Bardghji for a debut strike.
But eyebrows were raised when Rashford was withdrawn just 33 minutes into his Barca debut, allowing 17-year-old starlet Dro Fernandez to score his first goal and wrap up the victory.
Afterwards, Hansi Flick explained the decision to take Rashford off - revealing that he is "a week behind the others" in terms of his training level and stressing that the club "want to look after him"
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Barcelona newspaper Mundo Deportivo were encouraged by Rashford's display and said he "displayed his class across the pitch" with a performance that pleased Flick.
They also praised his defensive contributions but it was noted by writer Gabriel Sans that being "attentive to his tackles and defensive assists" is "one of the aspects the staff wants to strengthen" when it comes to Rashford.
Rashford's work-rate has come in for criticism on occasion but he will need to do his defensive duties in order to play in Flick's side as they look to compete on all fronts in the upcoming campaign.
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The La Liga champions are back in action on Thursday when they take on FC Seoul in South Korea, with Rashford looking for more minutes under his belt.
They then face another K League side in Daegu FC before rounding off pre-season with their annual Joan Gamper Trophy game against Cesc Fabregas' Como on Sunday 10 August.