Rashford Returns to Camp Nou, Turning Barca’s Jubilation into a Quiet Buzz

Rashford's Camp Nou Return and the Bilbao Test

English forward Marcus Rashford, on loan to Barcelona from Manchester United, briefly dampened the party inside Camp Nou by returning to play on the team’s home soil.

Barcelona host Athletic Bilbao on Saturday in La Liga, with a partial crowd of about 45,000 permitted until the ongoing expansion work is completed and the new seating is ready.

Barça had left their historic fortress for more than two years after the 2022-23 season, playing home games at Montjuïc and even using Johan Cruyff Arena for a women’s match this season, before the Camp Nou reopens to full capacity.

While Rashford’s return is welcome, doubts persist about his involvement for the clash with Bilbao.

Injury Doubts, Squad News, and Barca's Busy Schedule

According to Mundo Deportivo, Rashford missed Thursday’s training with the club’s permission, and on Friday he left practice early, signaling a second straight day of absence.

The Catalan paper noted Barcelona did not disclose an exact reason, but suggested he is struggling with a severe cold, which would be a blow given how pivotal he has been for coach Hansi Flick this season.

Rashford has six goals and nine assists in 16 appearances for Barca this campaign, continuing on loan with a buy option at the end of the season from Manchester United.

Last season he spent the second half on loan at Aston Villa, tallying four goals and six assists in 17 appearances across all competitions.

Flick is expected to address Rashford’s status in a press conference ahead of the Bilbao game, which sits in La Liga’s 13th round.

Stadium Reopening, Finances, and the Road Ahead

Barça resumes after the international break, buoyed by the prospect of playing at home and the return of several injured players such as Juan García, Rafinha, Marc Casado, and Lamine Yamal, all likely to be available for the squad selected by the German coach.

On the other hand, Pedri is unlikely to be ready for the Bilbao match, having only completed individual sessions this week.

Barça’s upcoming slate includes Chelsea in the Champions League, then Atlético Madrid and Villarreal in La Liga, making the Camp Nou reopening a financial and competitive milestone.

The stadium project is expected to boost finances, with Barcelona’s 2025-26 budget forecasting a €51 million increase in matchday revenue due to the earlier-than-planned reopening.

Before reopening, Barça was forced to stage early-season games at the Johan Cruyff Training Center, a 6,000-capacity venue, after safety permits delayed use of the Camp Nou.

Camp Nou will reopen at 45,401 seats, and once all works are finished, capacity will rise to 105,000, making it one of Europe’s largest arenas.

Barça must maintain at least 90% occupancy from the start of next season to protect sponsorship revenue with Spotify, which has been flagged as potentially at risk due to construction delays.

Ticket prices for the opening La Liga game against Bilbao seemed high, a sign of the importance Barça places on the occasion, according to club president Joan Laporta.

Lamine Yamal posted on Instagram, “Montjuïc was the start; Camp Nou is where history will be written,” celebrating the return to the iconic ground.

Yamal’s first appearance for Barcelona came at the Camp Nou when he was just 15, long before many current teammates stepped onto the old pitch opened in 1957.

Camp Nou is also in the conversation to host the 2030 World Cup final in Spain and Portugal, highlighting the stadium’s enduring prestige.

Punchline time: if Rashford plays, Barca might finally win a home game without outsourcing a win to the kitchen sink—talk about a fairytale ending, or at least a decent chapter. Punchline two: with a 105,000-seat cathedrals, the echo in Camp Nou might finally drown out the critics louder than the fans’ chants. And if all else fails, there’s always the stadium’s acoustics to help the team yell louder than the opponents.”