Aston Villa chief Monchi believes Unai Emery has made a quick impact on Marcus Rashford after the forward joined the Midlands club from Manchester United earlier this year
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Updated 19:16, 26 Mar 2025
Marcus Rashford made his way into the England squad thanks to his Aston Villa form under Unai Emery
Marcus Rashford made his way into the England squad thanks to his Aston Villa form under Unai Emery
(Image: Ryan Crockett/DeFodi Images)
Aston Villa president of football operations Monchi has hailed the quick impact his side have had on Marcus Rashford following his loan move from Manchester United. The Spanish transfer guru has lauded head coach Unai Emery's ability to get the best out of players and believes Villa Park has proved the perfect ground for Rashford and Marco Asensio.
The Midlands side secured both players on temporary deals, from United and Paris Saint-Germain respectively. Both have made a positive impact with ex-Real Madrid star Asensio proving a goalscoring threat- with seven goals for the club already, while Rashford has offered four assists.
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Villa landed Rashford late in the winter transfer window, after a month of speculation over the forward's future following his revelation he wanted to move on from Old Trafford. The likes of Barcelona and AC Milan failed to make deals work before the Premier League side provided a solution.
The Red Devils hope Rashford's spell away can improve their ability to sell the 27-year-old come the summer. Villa have the option to make his deal permanent at the end of the season for £40million but with a hefty contract until 2028, there is a suspicion Rashford may require his deal paying off by United, a fee which could total £20m.
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Monchi, in an interview with Radio Marca, said Villa's primary selling point to players is how much they can improve them.
"Unai is a coach who has historically helped players grow,” Monchi said. “There are players like Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio who have improved since Unai arrived.
"Coming here makes players better, and that's our main selling point, beyond offering a project that's fighting for the top eight in the Champions League, that wants to continue growing, and that wants to keep playing in Europe."
Marcus Rashford of Aston Villa
Marcus Rashford could join Aston Villa permanently in the summer(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Amid Rashford's exit, having fallen out of favour at Old Trafford, United boss Ruben Amorim appeared to have given up on getting the best out of the homegrown star. "I couldn't get Marcus to see the way you're supposed to play football and to train the way I see it," he explained.
"Sometimes you have one player that is really good with one coach, and the same player with another coach is different. I wish the best to Rashford and to [Villa manager] Unai Emery, and they can connect because he's a very good player."
Monchi hopes that he can use examples such as Asensio and Rashford, as a means to continue to bring stars to Aston Villa. Real Madrid star Arda Guler is someone he is firmly aware of, amid his struggles to break into Carlo Ancelotti's side.
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“I know him well because he is a player that every sporting director has followed during his time in Turkey," Monchi said. “He is a player who fulfilled a series of requirements and who could be attractive for Aston Villa because we were looking for that position.
"It’s not the same position as Marcos Asensio, but more or less we are looking for that profile between the lines that can play as a 10 and that can even play on the outside coming inside.
“To me he seems to be a player with very good technical conditions, and I also think he has personality, he shows it when he plays for the national team. There he takes on roles that are not associated with his age.
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