Marcus Rashford first start for Barcelona ended in disappointment as he was substituted at halftime during the champions dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Levante in La Liga according to The Sun.
The England international, who joined on loan from Manchester United, had made his debut the previous weekend with a 20-minute cameo in a 3-0 win at Mallorca. His performance earned him a place in the starting XI away at Levante, but he struggled to make an impact in the opening 45 minutes. Manager Hansi Flick opted to replace him at the interval alongside youngster Marc Casado, bringing on Dani Olmo and Gavi to inject more energy.
The changes paid off instantly. Just four minutes into the second half, Pedri produced a moment of brilliance, blasting in a long-range strike to halve the deficit. Only three minutes later, Barcelona were level as Ferran Torres volleyed home from a Raphinha corner, completing a rapid turnaround.
From then on, Barcelona pressed relentlessly for a winner. Their breakthrough eventually came in stoppage time when teenage sensation Lamine Yamal whipped in a dangerous cross. Under pressure, Levante defender Unai Elgezabal headed into his own net, sparking wild celebrations from the visitors.
Despite the dramatic win, Rashford found himself the subject of heavy criticism from supporters online. Many fans accused him of failing to adapt to Barcelona style and even suggested he had carried a losing mentality from Manchester United.
One supporter wrote: “Rashford has successfully brought the Man Utd mentality to Barca.” Another added: “Why did the coach even start him? He’s carried United losing mentality here.”
Others were even harsher in their assessment. “You can take Rashford out of Man Utd, but you can’t take Man Utd out of Rashford,” one fan posted. Another criticised his decision-making: “He plays like he’s still at United — no intelligence on the ball, poor positioning. Does he think running is enough? At Barcelona, you have to play smart.”
While Flick defended his squad after the match, the scrutiny on Rashford is unlikely to ease quickly. With Barcelona sitting top of the table after two wins from two, the pressure will be on the forward to prove he can adapt and contribute in a system built on technical precision and tactical discipline.
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