Valencia legend Gaizka Mendieta believes Marcus Rashford should commit his future to Barcelona, arguing the English forward has the tools to challenge for football's highest individual honours at the Catalan club.

Speaking through PlayUK, Mendieta acknowledged the complexity of Rashford's situation but made clear his view that a permanent switch makes sense for the player.

"It's a tricky one because he's obviously enjoying the Barcelona lifestyle as well as the playing. But Barça's style of football is so different from United's, or maybe every Premier League team."

Rashford joined Barcelona on loan and has rediscovered the form that once made him one of the most exciting attackers in Europe. The 27-year-old has registered 14 goals and 14 assists across 48 appearances for the Spanish giants, a return that has silenced many of his doubters.

Mendieta noted that restoring Rashford's confidence has been central to his renaissance, but also pointed to the emotional difficulty of returning to Manchester United — a club where the forward's relationship with the coaching staff had deteriorated sharply before his departure.

"I am very intrigued by what he might be thinking. I'm sure if he obviously now the confidence is back, he's proven to everyone, or most people, wrong that he can still play and play at that level. But going back to a club where at some point you were not wanted, or you were not loved in the way you wanted is difficult for a player to consider, even if situations have changed. But we've seen it."

Barcelona are understood to still be in negotiations over securing a permanent deal for Rashford as the summer transfer window draws closer. Whether the club can meet the financial demands of a full transfer remains to be seen, but Mendieta's message to the England international is unambiguous — stay in Spain and continue building on the form he has rediscovered at Camp Nou.