Marcus Rashford has joined Aston Villa on loan from Manchester United until the end of the season.
Sky Sports News understands Villa will cover at least 75 per cent of Rashford’s wages and this could go up to 90 per cent depending on his and the team’s performance.
“I would like to thank Manchester United and Aston Villa for making this loan deal happen,” Rashford said.
“I was lucky to have a few clubs approach me but Aston Villa was an easy decision – I really admire the way that Aston Villa have been playing this season, and the manager’s ambitions.
“I just want to play football and am excited to get started. I wish everyone at Manchester United all the best for the rest of the season.”
In response to Rashford’s Instagram post, former team-mate and friend Jadon Sancho said: “He’s back!”
Sky Sports News understands Villa have made the move as a result of the sale of Jhon Duran to Al Nassr.
Take a look at some of the best moments from Marcus Rashford’s time at Manchester United
Neville: Villa and Emery are just what Rashford needs
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville:
Speaking before the deal was confirmed, Gary Neville says Marcus Rashford’s loan move to Aston Villa from Manchester United is exactly what the player needs
“He had to get out of the club. He’s been battered in the last few weeks by his manager. That’s the only person who matters in football, your coach, and I think some of the statements from Ruben Amorim towards Marcus Rashford have been brutal, emphatically saying that he doesn’t want him. I don’t see how there’s any way back after the comments that he’s made.
“There are a number of things that are in his favour at Villa. He’s going to a far better team at this moment, he’s going to a coach who’s world class, which is a real opportunity for him.
“It puts pressure on Marcus to perform for Unai Emery because if you don’t play for him, then you’re sort of saying Ruben Amorim might be the problem, Erik ten Hag might be the problem. Unai Emery can’t be a problem for Rashford. He has to play well for him.
“The other thing is the style of play. How Villa play I think could suit Rashford as well. Maybe the spotlight won’t be quite on him as it was at Manchester United but certainly there’ll still be a lot of attention. Villa are in lots of competitions, they’ve still got a lot to play for and it’s a real opportunity for Marcus.
“It absolutely sounds like what he needs. The last thing that I would think Rashford needs at this moment is someone just like I say, ‘go and enjoy yourself’. He needs to have some discipline in his game, he needs to be coached and he needs to make sure that the team know exactly what it is that they want from him.
“Unai Emery will do that, he’s an absolutely amazing coach. It’s exactly what Marcus Rashford needs and what he’s got to do is buy into it.”
Rashford’s turbulent January
Rashford’s last appearance for Man Utd came on December 12
Rashford last played for his boyhood club in the Europa League trip to Viktoria Plzen.
The England international revealed in December he was “ready for a new challenge”, but few clubs offered an obvious landing spot thanks in no small part to his wages.
Speaking after Man Utd’s defeat to Crystal Palace, Ruben Amorim said Marcus Rashford’s Aston Villa move will hopefully improve the player
Rashford was left out of United’s 21-man squad for their Europa League win at FCSB despite the forward training with his team-mates on the eve of the match.
Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim suggested after their win over Fulham he would rather have 63-year-old goalkeeping coach in his squad than Rashford.
There have been reports that Amorim and Rashford were no longer on speaking terms.
Amorim left the door open for Rashford to fight his way back into first-team contention, saying United are “a better team with Rashford” but he “has to change” before he could force his way back into the first-team reckoning.
Will Rashford be guaranteed a first-team role at Villa?
Sky Sports’ Patrick Rowe:
“Rashford has played his best football on the left so this move arrives at an interesting time for Villa given Jacob Ramsey looks to be recapturing his finest form.
“The 23-year-old scored against West Ham and provided two assists against Celtic. If he maintains this run, there are no guarantees that Rashford will have the starting role he desires at Villa.
“Versatility is held in high regard by Emery so playing with Watkins up front or out on the right, given Leon Bailey’s struggles, are also possibilities.
Rashford’s minutes by position for Manchester United in the Premier League this season
“The other problem is which Rashford Villa will get. Emery has a track record of getting the best out of players so if he could get him close to the player we saw in 2022/23, who scored 17 goals in the Premier League, it’s a gamble worth taking for Villa.
“But as the saga with Jhon Duran also demonstrated, Emery has little-to-no patience for off-the-field antics.”
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