Barcelona: New Barcelona signing Marcus Rashford is set to make his home debut on Sunday in a friendly against Como as the club prepares for the upcoming La Liga season.

According to BBC, Rashford's initial days at Barcelona have been far from smooth, amidst a whirlwind of controversies and challenges. His debut has been overshadowed by the saga involving club captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen, whose potential sale was thwarted due to surgery, impacting Barcelona's financial ability to register new signings, including Rashford.

Barcelona's financial troubles have led to La Liga barring the registration of new players. Selling Ter Stegen could have resolved this, but his surgery prevented a summer sale, forcing the club to consider de-registering him until January. Ter Stegen resisted this move, leading to disciplinary actions, but eventually agreed to the plan, which could allow Rashford's registration for the league opener against Mallorca.

Meanwhile, Barcelona's iconic Nou Camp remains under reconstruction, delaying Rashford's anticipated home debut. The club has been playing at the city's Olympic Stadium, with the Nou Camp redevelopment running significantly behind schedule. Originally slated to open in December 2024, delays have pushed the completion further into the future, with the upcoming game against Valencia in mid-September as the target for a partial reopening.

Despite these off-field distractions, Rashford has shown promise on the pitch. During Barcelona's summer tour in Asia, he impressed with strong performances, including a standout display against Vissel Kobe. With Robert Lewandowski sidelined due to injury, Rashford has a chance to secure a key role, competing for the center-forward position alongside Ferran Torres.

Rashford's early performances have earned praise, and he is expected to play a significant role in the upcoming match against Como, providing him a platform to cement his place in the starting lineup for the league match against Mallorca. Despite the challenges, Rashford is poised to make a substantial impact at Barcelona, navigating through the club's tumultuous environment.