Marcus Rashford has described his loan move to Aston Villa as an “easy decision,” following his struggles to secure a place in Manchester United’s starting lineup under Ruben Amorim.
The 27-year-old forward made the switch after falling out of favor at Old Trafford. Villa officially announced his signing late on Sunday night, confirming the temporary deal that runs until the end of the season.
As part of the agreement, Aston Villa has the option to sign Rashford permanently for £40 million in the summer. The club is also covering the majority of his £325,000-per-week wages, a figure that could be difficult to maintain if he stays at Villa Park beyond the loan period.
Expressing his excitement, Rashford took to Instagram to share his thoughts:
“I’d like to thank Manchester United and Aston Villa for making this loan move possible. Several clubs showed interest, but choosing Villa was easy—I admire their style of play and the manager’s ambitions. My focus is on playing football, and I’m eager to get started. Wishing United the best for the rest of the season.”
Villa, in their official statement, said:
“Aston Villa is delighted to confirm the loan signing of Marcus Rashford from Manchester United.”
This move represents a significant financial commitment for Villa, but it aligns with their recent squad changes. The club recently sold Jhon Duran to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr for £64 million, creating both financial flexibility and a need for reinforcements in attack.
Rashford has struggled for consistent game time this season. Despite scoring three goals in Amorim’s first two matches in charge, he has not played for United since December 12. The situation worsened following a public reprimand from Amorim, who criticized Rashford’s effort levels, even joking that he would prefer to field his 63-year-old goalkeeper coach Jorge Vita over a player who isn’t giving his all.
Tensions escalated after reports surfaced that Rashford was out socializing just 48 hours before a key match against Everton. Although he denied the allegations, his relationship with the manager deteriorated further. Rashford’s public statement about being “ready for a new challenge” only deepened the rift.
According to sources, Rashford believes his departure was influenced by United’s new ownership. There is speculation that Sir Jim Ratcliffe was instrumental in pushing him out of the club.
“Marcus feels like he’s being unfairly targeted. During early training sessions under Amorim, other players also struggled to adapt, but he was singled out for criticism. He knows he needs to move on, but he’s surprised that no major club has made a strong push to sign him.”
While clubs like Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Monaco, and AC Milan were linked with him, his high wages complicated any potential permanent transfer.
Former United legends Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, and Paul Scholes have all weighed in on the situation. Ferdinand even suggested that Rashford could consider legal action against Amorim for his remarks.
Rooney shared an awkward encounter at United’s training ground, where he saw Rashford training alone as parents walked by, calling the situation “embarrassing.”
“Marcus needs to leave. He’s not the same player anymore. A fresh start is what’s best for him.”
Scholes was even more critical, questioning Rashford’s attitude and its impact on younger players like Alejandro Garnacho.
“Marcus has let a lot of people down. If he’s not committed, he should be removed from the dressing room. The sooner he’s gone, the better.”
With his United future uncertain, Rashford now has a fresh opportunity to prove himself at Aston Villa, where he could also experience Champions League football once again.