Marcus Rashford almost joined PSG in 2022 and contact with Luís Campos has been renewed | OneFootball

Marcus Rashford (27) will be wearing the claret and blue of Aston Villa when he steps onto the pitch at the Parc des Princes on Wendesday night, however, he could easily have been doing so as a Paris Saint-Germain player, as L’Équipe report.

PSG’s long-standing interest in Rashford is no secret; Nasser Al-Khelaifi has previously gone public about his admiration for the player. Never was the Englishman closer to joining the club than in the summer of 2022. After Kylian Mbappé (26) announced that he would remain at the club, PSG had a plan to replace another attacking element, Neymar (33), with Rashford. There were at least three meetings between the Aston Villa forward’s brothers and the hierarchy at PSG.

Rashford continued to discuss the move with the sporting director at the time, Leonardo, and the Englishman had even given the green light for a move to the Parc des Princes, L’Équipe understands. However, everything changed in May 2022 when Leonardo was informed that he was no longer the sporting director of the club.

‘If Leonardo had stayed, Marcus Rashford would have joined PSG’

He was replaced by Luís Campos, however, it wasn’t the Portuguese director that put an end to the months-long negotiations. It was another former Antero Henrique, who still had a large influence at the club at the time. Pini Zahavi got involved at this moment and this turned out to be the turning point.

“Negotiations became a lot more difficult from that point on. Everyone was confident when Leonardo was in charge but not at all after his departure. I am convinced that if Leonardo had stayed, Marcus Rashford would have joined PSG,” an English source told L’Équipe.

Campos in talks with Rashford’s entourage

Is it a deal that could yet be revived? Never say never. As per L’Équipe, contact between the England international’s entourage and Luís Campos, whose own future at PSG is uncertain, has been renewed. Despite interest from Olympique de Marseille in January, Rashford wanted to remain in England. However, that may change come the summer when the centre-forward, whose loan move from Manchester United to Aston Villa reportedly includes a £40m buy option, may have another decision to make on his future.

It is unclear whether Aston Villa will opt to retain the Englishman. PSG, meanwhile, will be in the market for a forward, L’Équipe understands.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle