Aston Villa have the option to sign Marcus Rashford permanently from Manchester United for £40million this summer, but Bryan Robson believes he shouldn't even consider that possibility
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Marcus Rashford of Aston Villa
Marcus Rashford could join Aston Villa permanently in the summer(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Manchester United legend Bryan Robson has appealed to Marcus Rashford to return to his boyhood club with renewed energy, rather than consider a permanent move to Aston Villa. Rashford joined Villa on loan until the end of the season in January and has made positive strides forward in the past six weeks.
He has registered four assists in nine appearances for Villa so far, combining well with fellow January arrival Marco Asensio. His performances were enough to earn a place in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad and he started in the 2-0 win over Albania on Friday at Wembley.
Unai Emery has been pleased with what he’s seen from Rashford so far and Villa will have the opportunity to sign him permanently for £40million in the summer transfer window. That possibility is still some way off, but the 27-year-old’s mini resurgence, while United continue to struggle under Ruben Amorim, has opened up a debate on his future.
Rashford has 138 goals and 64 assists in 426 appearances for his boyhood club and former United midfielder Robson thinks his first priority should be to return home this summer.
"Marcus has unbelievable talent and should be doing better for Manchester United,” he told The Express. “He shouldn't even be moving on to Aston Villa. He should be giving his best for Man United.
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"[Whether he comes back] is the manager's and Marcus's decision. But for me, he's got the talent, and you've got to get the best out of him. And Marcus has got to get the best out of himself, and he should be a Man United player next year."
Rashford was frozen out of the first-team picture by Amorim at United, with his last appearance for the team coming way back on December 12 against Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League. He made it clear that he wanted a fresh challenge in an interview and has found one at Villa, where he has been fielded on the left wing by Emery.
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Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford is back sporting England colours
But Robson bristles at the suggestion that Rashford is now suddenly playing with a smile on his face again – and that is the only difference. "Well, I haven't come out publicly and said anything, but the TV pundits drive me crazy," Robson said. "I'm talking about ex-players saying that as soon as he went to Villa, he was enjoying his football again.
"Hold on a minute. You are so fortunate to be a football player. If I'm at Man United, I'm enjoying my football, or I should be enjoying my football, and I'm going to work hard to try and make the team successful. So when you go to Villa, it's no different from playing for Man United. You try to enjoy your game and do the best you can. So there's no excuses."
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