Xavi's Marcus Rashford stance and awkward chats with two Man United stars after 'talks'

Marcus Rashford has already left an impression on Xavi Hernandez amid speculation the Catalan coach could replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.

Xavi left the Nou Camp helm at the end of the 2023/24 campaign and is currently without a club, though it's believed United CEO Omar Berrada travelled to Spain for talks with the Barcelona icon. Not that it may amount to much, however, considering Madrid-based daily AS reported Xavi is set to take a sabbatical and will turn down any advances from the Premier League in the short term.

The 44-year-old came up against United on two occasions over the course of his two-and-a-half-year stint in charge of the Blaugrana. And his impression of Rashford – who has endured difficult times over the past 18 months – painted a positive image.

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Speaking to Mundo Deportivo in 2023, Xavi was highly complimentary of the United graduate regarding their Europa League run-in earlier that year and he said: "Rashford cost us a lot. Also Vinicius, [Karim] Benzema..." That came after Xavi had already given his English adversary high praise before he ever encountered him in a competitive setting.

"In the transition he is very, very dangerous so, yes, we need to take care of all of them but especially Rashford," said the Catalan coach. "He's one of the most dangerous players now in Europe, yeah. He's very fast, he is a very good at dribbling in one-versus-one."

Xavi is perhaps in need of some homework in relation to the United squad if he were to take over at Old Trafford, however. That's after the four-time Champions League-winner appeared to forget skipper Bruno Fernandes' name altogether during an interview with The Times in February 2023.

While praising Ten Hag's impact improving certain players under his charge, Xavi said: "He [Ten Hag] is getting all the talent out of his players. You see [Jadon] Sancho, [Marcus] Rashford, the Portuguese guy, and look how Fred is playing."

And that's not the only awkward encounter he could face in Manchester should he replace Ten Hag. Xavi was still playing for Qatari outfit Al-Sadd in 2018 when he aimed a veiled dig at Casemiro while discussing Jose Mourinho's tactics at Real Madrid.

"Madrid break apart, seven players attack and Casemiro stays back on his own to cover the centre," he told Spanish newspaper El Pais. "[Barca midfielder Sergio] Busquets cannot do that as even I am faster than he is. Casemiro is super fast, but he has trouble with everything else as he has not worked on it.

"He has other characteristics, is more defensive, makes more tackles, covers more ground, but he does not dominate space-time. If you had started with Casemiro aged 12, 13, 15, then he would have that."

Those were big words for a mind who had yet to even officially started his journey as a manager at the time. However, both Casemiro and Fernandes would hope they were capable of currying more favour with the tactician if they linked up at Old Trafford, though some in the current squad may hope that's not the case based on Xavi's previous assessments.