Aston Villa confirmed the signing of Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford on Sunday. The England international, 27, has joined on loan until the end of the season, which includes an option to buy for £40m.
It is believed a minimum of 75% of Marcus Rashford’s £365k-a-week wage will be covered by Aston Villa, rising to 90% depending on performance-based bonuses. The player’s exit from Manchester United comes after head coach Ruben Amorim refused to play him since the Manchester derby in mid-December due to “training reasons”. Prior to leaving his boyhood club, the 27-year-old had scored four goals and supplied an assist in 15 Premier League games this season.
Upon signing for Aston Villa, Rashford said in his first interview with the club: “It’s an ambitious time for this club and a great opportunity for me to join the team and help them keep pushing forward. I’m excited, can’t wait for the first training session and obviously the first game.
“(Unai Emery is) a top manager and what he’s done at the club since he’s come to Villa is unbelievable.
“It’s the constant ambition that’s attractive, and it’s why you want to join such a club. You want to keep improving year on year, and that’s what the team has been doing and are doing this year.”
Rashford stated the quality of the squad, mentality of the manager and style of his play were key factors in his decision to join the Villans.
“It’s a club that’s in a good position in the league, and they’re pushing to get higher. Still in the Champions League, a good, ambitious manager and great talent in the squad,” he added.
“I’ve had to choose somewhere where I feel my style of football is suited to, and can help them and help me rediscover and improve as a player.
“Obviously it’s only short-term I’m here, so I want to make the most of my time here, and the only way to do that is by using my attributes and my skillset to help the team.”
Villans have perhaps signed Rashford to replace Jhon Duran, who joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr in a big-money deal. Villa have already rejected an opening proposal from Arsenal for Ollie Watkins as they don’t want to lose their first-choice striker midway through the season.
Aston Villa have shown ambition in the winter transfer window
The Unai Emery-managed club have shown ambition in the winter transfer window, signing Spanish full-back Andres Garcia from Levante and Netherlands forward Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund before acquiring Rashford’s services on loan from Man United.
The West Midlands club are now also set to sign Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Asensio on a six-month loan deal. Emery said his squad need new players following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to arch-rivals Wolves, which left Villa eighth in the Premier League table.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
