MARCUS Rashford has rekindled his relationship with former fiancée Lucia Loi — and she was with him when he signed for FC Barcelona, The Sun can reveal.
The Three Lions ace, 27, and childhood sweetheart Lucia, 26, were together during a photoshoot before he was unveiled as the Catalan giants’ latest signing at the Camp Nou stadium.
She took his photo, then moved behind him to take another and seemingly checked his shirt before the Man United exile posed beside a traditional red British phone box.
Rashford was later seen emerging from the kiosk in a post on FC Barcelona’s social media, captioned: “Hello? Barca? For sure, I’m coming.”
The striker has signed a year-long deal with Barcelona, who have an option to buy him next summer for around £26million.
Old Trafford boss Ruben Amorim has made it clear he will not play for United while he is in charge.
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Rashford has been given the No14 shirt previously worn by big names including Johan Cruyff, Thierry Henry and Ronald Koeman.
The Sun understands that Rashford has asked calming influence Lucia, who works in PR, to help him settle in to life in Spain so he can focus on his football.
But they were not seen together until they were unwittingly snapped preparing for his phone box stunt.
A source said the pair have stayed close, despite their 2022 engagement fizzling out, and have grown close again of late.
They added: “Marcus knows that some of the best moments in his career have occurred when Lucia has been at his side.
“They got together when they were very young and have had ups and downs, but a friendship has always remained.
“He knows that she is good for him and she is one of the few people in the world he knows has got his best interests at heart. She is very sensible and helps keep him grounded.”
Rashford said of his move: “I’m very excited. It’s a club where dreams come true.
“It feels like I’m at home and it’s a big factor in my choice to come here. It’s a family club and people are comfortable here.”
Rashford, who flew out yesterday with his new teammates for his new club’s Far East pre-season tour, and Lucia have been friends for at least a decade.
They met at Ashton on Mersey School in Manchester where both were pupils. He was sent there as a teenage United academy player.
They were dating when he made his first team debut in February 2016 in a UEFA Europa League match against FC Midtjylland.
He scored twice in the 5-1 victory at Old Trafford.
They split in 2021 after Covid put a strain on their relationship but reconciled the following year.
In February 2022, they were seen at the world premiere of Amazon Prime documentary “Rooney” at HOME cinema in Manchester.
Three months later, he proposed to Lucia after a romantic meal at celebrity restaurant Catch LA in West Hollywood, California.
He got down on one knee and handed her a £250,000 engagement ring, posting a picture on Instagram of them kissing.
Behind them was a large heart made from white flowers. Beneath the picture was the date and a love heart emoji.
Lucia, who graduated with first class honours in Advertising and Brand Management, was a regular in the stands at Old Trafford.
But in June 2023, sources said Rashford and the former Manchester Metropolitan University student had split after he was seen with a model outside a hotel in Miami.
She was later identified as personal trainer Courtney Caldwell.
In November 2023, Rashford and Lucia were seen having dinner at a restaurant in Manchester.
He was briefly linked to model and former Love Island contestant Grace Jackson last year, but the relationship ended in December.
Back in Spain, meanwhile, Rashford is expected to be on 15 per cent less than the £315,000-a-week he was paid at Man United.
He spent the second half of last season at Aston Villa after Amorim made it plain he would not be part of his plans for United’s future.
Barcelona almost signed Rashford in January, a move the star said he wanted to go through.
After the deal was finally signed on Wednesday, club president Joan Laporta said: “We are very happy because a player of great quality is coming, at a great age.
“We have him as strong as a rock. He came in very motivated.”
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