Aston Villa signed Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United for the rest of the season on Sunday to end the England international’s exile under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.
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Once a hero for the United fans, Rashford has not featured for his boyhood club since December 12 and admitted earlier this season he was ready for a “new challenge”.
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The 27-year-old had been linked with a move to AC Milan and Barcelona, but the European giants were put off by his reported ÂŁ300,000-a-week ($372,000) wages.
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According to Sky Sports, Villa will pick up at least 75 percent of that pay packet for the coming months, rising to 90 percent depending on performance-related bonuses and have an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season for ÂŁ40 million.
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“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,” said Rashford in a Villa statement.
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“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.”
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Villa moved to bolster their attacking options after selling Colombia striker Jhon Duran to Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr on Friday for a reported ÂŁ64 million.
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Unai Emery’s men have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League and still have aspirations to qualify for that tournament again next season.
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Villa sit eighth in the Premier League, eight points above 13th-placed United.
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Rashford scored 138 goals in 426 appearances since coming through the ranks at Old Trafford and has lifted the Europa League, two FA Cups and two League Cups as a United player.
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However, his attitude and work ethic in training has been questioned by Amorim, since he took charge in November.
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After last weekend’s 1-0 win at Fulham, the Portuguese coach sensationally claimed he would rather put the club’s 63-year-old goalkeeping coach, Jorge Vital, in the squad than Rashford.
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“Our team should be so much better with Rashford, but he has to change,” Amorim said last week.
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“If he does change, we are more than welcome to put a talent like Rashford in, and we need it.
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“But in this moment I think it’s really clear that we have to set some standards. That’s all.”
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A temporary switch to Villa allows Rashford a fresh start to rehabilitate his tarnished reputation after his astonishing fall from grace.
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He was part of England’s World Cup squad just over two years ago and scored a career-best 30 goals in the 2022/23 campaign.
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But he netted just eight times last season and has seven in 24 appearances so far this campaign.
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