Inside Marcus Rashford’s new life in Barcelona after star nets brace against Newcastle

Barcelona star Marcus Rashford showed his doubters in English football his very best as he scored a stunning brace to beat Newcastle on his Champions League debut for his new club

Marcus Rashford sent a stunning message to Ruben Amorim and his doubters in English football with a wonderful brace to beat Newcastle.

The new Barcelona star produced his brilliant best on his Champions League debut for the Catalan giants as his second half double proved the difference at St James’ Park on Thursday night, with Hansi Flick’s side winning 2-1.

After being frozen out by Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford, Rashford enjoyed a return to form at Aston Villa on loan over the second half of last season before landing his dream move to Barcelona, joining on an initial season-long loan with an option to buy in the region of £20million.

And Rashford has wasted no time in proving his class, and piling more pressure on Amorim after the Portuguese manager splashed close to £200m revamping the frontline that he cast Rashford out of.

The 27-year-old opened the scoring with a well-directed header into the far bottom corner before thundering a rasping strike from 25 yards in off the underside of the crossbar just nine minutes later.

Rashford’s double was enough for Barcelona to start their European campaign with three points, despite Anthony Gordon’s injury-time goal giving the Magpies hope of a comeback, which never materialised.

However, the England international hasn’t had the easiest start to life in Catalonia, with Hansi Flick keeping him largely in reserve during the opening weeks of the season.

Rashford was a second-half substitute in two of the first three games of the Blaugrana’s opening La Liga fixtures, and he was substituted at half-time in the second game of the season against Levante, with Barcelona 2-0 down before they went on to win 3-2.

But in the absence of Lamine Yamal, Rashford started the 6-0 demolition against Valencia on Sunday, picking up an assist for the second goal, and Flick kept his faith with him again to start against Newcastle, which he duly vindicated.

Rashford appears to be finally settling into life in Barcelona after a tricky start and that could largely be down to the impact of his long-term flame Lucia Loi.

The England international has been spotted rekindling with his ‘on-off girlfriend’ in Spain as he stopped to sign autographs for Barcelona fans last month.

It appears that Rashford has called on the support of Lucia in his first career move abroad as the two look to revive their relationship in fresh surroundings.

Rashford and Lucia have known each other since secondary school, attending Ashton-on-Mersey School in Manchester together as youngsters.

The two were in a relationship when Rashford burst onto the scene in stunning European and Premier League debuts against FC Midtjylland and Arsenal in February 2016.

However, their relationship hit a rocky patch during Covid as they split before reconciling a year later, with Rashford proposing to Lucia with a £250,000 engagement ring in June 2022.

But again they split in June 2023, with Rashford since being seen with a model outside a Miami hotel, and dating former Love Island contestant Grace Jackson as recently as December last year.

The two have seemingly found happiness together again, and Rashford’s career appears to be benefiting with his brace against the Geordies showing he’s back on the right tracks after a miserable ending to his United career under Amorim.