Marcus Rashford reportedly remains determined to secure his dream move to Barcelona, despite the Spanish club's sporting director Deco recently downplaying their interest in signing him.
The 27-year-old joined Aston Villa on loan from Manchester United on deadline day following a falling out with manager Ruben Amorim.
Rashford's departure from his boyhood club came after being dropped for the Manchester derby in December.
His representatives held discussions with several European clubs, including Barcelona, before settling on the temporary switch to Villa Park.
Marcus Rashford reportedly remains determined to secure his dream move to Barcelona, despite the Spanish club's sporting director Deco recently downplaying their interest in signing him
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Villa have a £40million option to buy the 27-year-old at the end of his loan spell, but the forward has made it clear he doesn't see his future at the club.
In his welcome interview, Rashford stated: "Obviously its only short term that I'm here but I want to make the most of my time here."
He added: "And the only way to do that is by using my attributes and skill sets to help the team."
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Marcus Rashford has made a positive start to life at Aston Villa following his loan move from Manchester United
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Barcelona's sporting director Deco acknowledged: "Its true there was talk of Rashford - but we werent desperately looking for a player either."
Rashford made an immediate impact in Villa's latest match against Ipswich, striking a free-kick that hit the crossbar before Ollie Watkins turned in the rebound to secure a 1-1 draw.
A source close to the player told The Sun that Rashford believes strong performances at Villa Park could revive Barcelona's interest.
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"Marcus is confident that if he rediscovers his form at Villa Park and starts bagging goals, Barcelona will revive their interest, especially as a transfer price has been established," the source said.
"Its a huge incentive for him, which is good news for Villa," the source added.
The England international's determination to impress at Villa Park is driven by his long-standing ambition to play at the Nou Camp.
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His loan move to Villa appears to be a strategic step, with the established £40million price tag potentially making future negotiations more straightforward.
The forward is now focused on regaining the form that initially attracted Barcelona's attention.
"Now he just needs to get playing and start scoring," the source concluded.
Marcus Rashford fell out with Ruben Amorim before departing Manchester United on loan for Aston Villa
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While Barcelona's current stance remains measured, the established £40million valuation could prove crucial in any future negotiations.
For now, Rashford's immediate challenge is to deliver consistent performances in Villa colours, with his recent contribution against Ipswich marking a promising start to his Midlands stint.
