In hindsight, one might argue that the England international had just had enough of being made a scapegoat by Ruben Amorim, and a lack of professionalism was his only way of guaranteeing a way out of what had become an untenable situation.
Rashford is having the last laugh
Fast forward eight months, and the 28-year-old seems to be having the last laugh.
At the time of writing, Barcelona are on course to at least be challenging for LaLiga if not going on to win it, and with a favourable draw in the Champions League, could advance to at least the semi-finals again.
Whilst it would take a monumental comeback against Atletico Madrid to progress in the Copa del Rey, it's certainly not beyond them, and one can be assured that Hansi Flick will encourage Rashford et al to be brave and take the game to the Rojiblancos in the same way they were bested last time out.
From a personal perspective, the winger could hardly have done more to impress during his loan spell.
Hugely impressive return
To date, he has four goals and six assists in 21 LaLiga appearances, one goal and one assist in three Spanish Cup appearances and five goals and three assists in eight Champions League appearances.
Given he's had to get to grips with a completely different way of working, in a new league, whilst trying to come to terms with a new language and the cultural differences, that's a hugely impressive return.
Not to mention that he's also hit the woodwork on four further occasions, and been a whisker away from adding to his goalscoring tally plenty more times to boot.
It makes an expected transfer fee in the summer of €30m/£26m seem quite the bargain.
Improvement needed in LaLiga
His pace is another asset that has been used to absolute perfection at various times, and his seven fast breaks have shown that speed off to its fullest extent. Indeed, hardly any defenders have been able to live with him once he's got into his stride.
A shot conversion rate, including blocks, of 22.7% in the UCL is certainly acceptable, though just 6.3% in the Spanish top-flight clearly needs work.
That might be why Rashford often finds himself as an impact sub in the league when both Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are fit.
A lack of starts could also be the stumbling block to any permanent deal.
Rashford wants a more prominent role
Although reports would suggest that both parties are intent on dotting the i's and crossing the t's on a contract at the appropriate time - assuming any presidential changes in mid-March don't alter the direction of travel - it appears that Rashford wants a more prominent role in the team.
In LaLiga, he has started in 13 of his 21 games, in all three of his Copa del Rey appearances, and in four of his eight UCL appearances.
Notwithstanding his excellence on the pitch, which also includes a passing range above 80% in all competitions bar the UCL (79.8%), and a 100% tackle success rate in LaLiga and the Spanish Cup, there's little argument that he hasn't actually been given a fair crack of the whip by his coach.
As we approach the business end of the season too, when the games start to come thick and fast, Rashford is bound to pick up even more starts, so to be essentially having his representatives setting the 'ground rules' to any new deal now is a little shortsighted at best.
More so when one considers that he doesn't appear to have too many other options available to him at this juncture.
A dangerous game from both parties?
There are also rumours that, despite the great price that the Catalans negotiated for a player who, by conservative estimates, is now worth nearer to £50m, Barcelona may chance their arm and use Rashford's desire to stay at the club to drive the price down.
That too is a dangerous game for them to be playing, and almost flies in the face of their public acknowledgement of wanting to keep the player permanently.
Ultimately, the deal is there waiting to be done, and if Rashford can end the 2025/26 campaign as successfully as he has started it, there's little reason why he won't remain at the Camp Nou for the foreseeable future.
If he were to go on and have a great World Cup with England to boot, his sale will be yet another decision that will leave Man Utd's hierarchy with egg on their faces, but if there are continued demands made of the Catalan giants, then the player himself will see the best opportunity he's had in a while dissolve in an instant.
