Barcelona sporting director Deco says Marcus Rashford "helped us a lot" during his season-long loan from Manchester United.

Rashford fell out of favour at his boyhood club under Ruben Amorim and joined Barcelona for the 2025-26 campaign, with the club given the option to make the deal permanent for €35m (£30m).

The 28-year-old made 49 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona, scoring 14 goals and registering 11 assists.

He also scored a sensational free-kick in their 2-0 Clasico win over Real Madrid on May 10, which clinched the LaLiga title for Barcelona.

"We knew he had these kinds of skills. I saw him scoring at United many times, but this goal was unbelievable. It was a fantastic goal," Deco told BBC Sport of Rashford.

"Marcus has helped us a lot because he came on loan. It is not easy to come on loan as a player like him because he is a top player.

"He helped us a lot because he had the responsibility to replace Raphinha; it is not easy, but he did very well.

"Sometimes he [is] on the bench, and it's not easy, but he reacted very well, and he did everything.

"His season was very good, and we are happy he won La Liga with us. He deserves [it], he works a lot and works hard to be here. We are happy with him."

Barcelona have now won the last two LaLiga titles since Hansi Flick took over, with the German also leading them to the Copa del Rey last term, as well as two Supercopa de Espana titles.

His team is built on a new generation of academy graduates, including the likes of Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal, with Deco excited about what the future holds.

"It is true that we won two LaLigas, but these players want to win more; they believe that they can win more," Deco said.

"That's why it's important, because if the players believe they can achieve more important things, you see, they still want to do something important.

"I believe that this team, for me, is the beginning of the era, the beginning of the history of this team, because they are so young and still want to win something important."