Marcus Rashford is finally getting the moment he has dreamed about since he arrived in Spain. His wish to play at the iconic Camp Nou is set to become reality after Barcelona confirmed their long-awaited return to the legendary stadium.
The Manchester United forward pushed hard for his loan switch to the Catalan giants last summer. His previous spell at Aston Villa convinced him that a fresh challenge abroad was the right move. And even though his Barcelona stay has been impressive, one thing has been missing: the Camp Nou experience.
Barcelona have not played at the stadium since 2023 due to the club’s massive £1.3billion renovation project. All home games have been played at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium instead. But the wait ends now.
The Catalan club announced they will host Athletic Bilbao at Camp Nou on Saturday. A new occupancy license allows more than 45,000 fans inside the ground.
The club shared the update with excitement, explaining that approval for Phase 1B now makes the partial reopening possible.
Barcelona also confirmed that work continues on Phase 1C to prepare the North Goal section for future matches.
For Rashford, this moment hits differently. He has always spoken openly about his desire to play at Camp Nou. Earlier this week, during an open training session at the stadium, he explained what the occasion means to him.
“It’s a very nice feeling,” he said. “It’s a beautiful stadium and when it is full it’s going to be unbelievable. Camp Nou was always one of my favourite stadiums and one I wanted to play in. But to play on it for Barcelona is going to be a different feeling. I cannot wait to be on the pitch. I will enjoy it.”
The refurbished ground is expected to be fully completed in 2027, with capacity expanding to 105,000, making it one of the largest stadiums on the planet.
Barcelona have already asked UEFA to switch their Champions League home games back to Camp Nou for the rest of the season. Rashford has been central to that push, delivering 15 goal contributions in 16 games while helping Barca stay within touching distance of league leaders Real Madrid.
Now, with their return home locked in, both the English forward and the Blaugrana enter the next chapter with renewed fire and a stadium ready to roar again.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
