Barcelona players were reportedly unhappy that their club's new-found financial freedom was being used to potentially sign a new talent in Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford.

In the January transfer window, it emerged that Rashford was interested in a move to Barcelona after declaring his desire for a new chapter away from Old Trafford. MEN Sport understands that while Barca are fond of the forward, they did not see a loan move in January as viable.

Instead, the aim was to sign him in the summer should the opportunity arise. This hesitation led to Rashford reassessing his options and agreeing to join Aston Villa on loan instead with the club having an option to buy the winger for £40m in the summer.

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According to SPORT, this development was music to the ears of members of the Barcelona dressing room. It is understood while the existing squad at the Catalan club have no issue with Rashford personally, they felt that the money Barca were looking to spend on him would have been better served improving the wages of the current squad.

They felt the La Liga giants should have shown their appreciation to the players that have carried Barcelona to third in the league and comfortably into the knockouts of the Champions League. It remains to be seen if Barca's hierarchy will continue that course of action now Rashford is no longer arriving before the end of the season, or if they will keep that money for the summer to try again.

Rashford could make his debut for Villa on Sunday when they host Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the FA Cup.