Mundo Deportivo reports that the upcoming El Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona will be unique, and the secret lies in the English players.
Barcelona has completed the signing of Marcus Rashford from Manchester United on a one-year loan deal with an option to buy for €35 million.
For the first time in history, both Real Madrid and Barcelona have English players on the pitch, so the upcoming El Clásico will be the first of its kind to feature at least one English player on each team.
Real Madrid has had Jude Bellingham since 2023, and this summer they signed Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool, and now Rashford will be their rival at Barcelona.
The first English player to join one of the two Spanish giants was Laurie Cunningham, who joined Real Madrid between 1979 and 1983, receiving a standing ovation from the Camp Nou crowd during El Clásico in February 1980.
The first and last English player to play for Barcelona was Gary Lineker, who joined after winning the 1986 World Cup top scorer award.
During the 21st century, four English players have represented Real Madrid: Steve McManaman (1999–2003), David Beckham (2003–2007), Jonathan Woodgate (2004–2006), and Michael Owen (2004–2005), in addition to the duo of Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
It’s worth noting that the first El Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona this season will take place at the Santiago Bernabéu at the end of next October, and Bellingham is unlikely to participate due to his recovery from shoulder surgery.
