Marcus Rashford left Manchester United to join Barcelona on a season-long loan in the summer following an underwhelming couple of years at Old Trafford. And his transfer was brokered by a darts enthusiast who used to work as a referee for the Premier League.

Rashford signed a bumper contract at United in the summer of 2023 after bagging 30 goals and 12 assists throughout the 2022/23 campaign. But his form soon nosedived and he ultimately fell out of favour under Ruben Amorim as he was shipped off on loan to Aston Villa for the second half of last season. He eventually secured a temporary move to the Nou Camp, with the deal including a clause that will allow Barcelona to sign the winger permanently for around £26million next summer.

According to The Telegraph, Simon Leaf, a highly regarded partner at law firm Mishcon de Reya, was enlisted by Rashford’s brother and representative Dwaine Maynard ahead of the player’s move to Spain.

Leaf heads up the sport and technology division at the firm and has a first-class honours degree from the University of Cambridge.

He has worked with...