Marcus Rashford faces the risk of being unable to play in La Liga due to a violation of the competition’s terms, and it is highly likely that Rashford will have to return to Manchester United

With just over a week left before the 2025/26 La Liga season kicks off, Barcelona find themselves in the middle of a registration crisis that could have significant consequences for several key players — and Marcus Rashford is one of the biggest names at risk.

The English forward, who joined Barcelona amid high expectations, is among eight players currently excluded from the official La Liga registration list. This setback comes at a critical time for coach Hansi Flick, who has been unable to finalize his squad for the opening match against Mallorca on August 16. The situation has raised concerns that Rashford may be forced to leave Spain entirely and return to Manchester United.

The problem extends beyond Rashford. Other notable absentees from the registration list include new signings Joan García, Wojciech Szczesny, Gerard Martin, Héctor Fort, Marc Bernal, Rony Bardghji, and Oriol Romeu — the latter widely expected to leave the club. The reasons for these omissions vary, but in Rashford’s case, the situation is tied to La Liga’s strict competition terms and unresolved compliance issues.

Barcelona’s summer transfer activity has been ambitious but complicated. The club spent €25 million to bring in goalkeeper Joan García from Espanyol and renewed Szczesny’s contract, yet neither can be registered. To make matters worse, their two existing senior goalkeepers, Marc-André ter Stegen and Iñaki Peña, are no longer in the club’s immediate plans.

The Ter Stegen situation has created a further headache for the Catalan giants. A dispute arose when the German goalkeeper refused to authorize the release of his medical report to La Liga, stemming from disagreements over the timing of his recovery period after surgery. His refusal has effectively blocked a potential administrative move that could have freed up registration space for other players. Meanwhile, Iñaki Peña is actively seeking a new club.

For Rashford, the problem is compounded by his high-profile status and salary structure, which make his registration a costly and bureaucratic challenge. La Liga’s financial control rules require Barcelona to meet strict spending limits, and without additional revenue or outgoing transfers, the club cannot complete all registrations.

Rony Bardghji, another new arrival, is also affected but may temporarily be placed in the B team to bypass the registration bottleneck. Ansu Fati, despite moving on loan to Monaco, still occupies a first-team slot, further tightening the available space. Young players like Gerard Martin, Héctor Fort, and Bernal also remain unregistered, with their immediate futures uncertain.

There are possible solutions on the table. One option would be for Barcelona to capitalize on Ter Stegen’s situation: if he is sidelined for more than four months, his registration could be removed, creating room for others. Another alternative is for the club to seek La Liga’s approval to reopen the VIP section at the Spotify Camp Nou, which could activate the 1:1 financial rule and allow new signings to be registered.

However, time is running out. If the issue is not resolved in the coming days, Rashford may face the unthinkable — missing the start of the season entirely. Worse still, a prolonged registration failure could force him to seek a move back to Manchester United or another club willing to take him on before the transfer window closes.

For Barcelona, the crisis underscores an ongoing struggle to balance financial compliance with competitive ambition. For Rashford, it’s a frustrating twist in what was supposed to be a fresh and exciting chapter in his career. The next week will determine whether he starts the season in La Liga — or boards a flight back to Engla