Aston Villa legend Gabby Agbonlahor has insisted that Marcus Rashford’s resurgence away from Old Trafford is playing out in a similar way to what a former Manchester United star experienced.
Marcus Rashford left boyhood club Manchester United back in February and the 27-year-old England star completed his move to Aston Villa as part of loan deal.
Aston Villa reportedly agreed to pay the large majority of Rashford’s hefty United wages and the Premier League club did not pay a loan fee for the transfer.
Rashford’s loan spell with Villa is for the remainder of the 2024-25 Premier League season and the club have an option to buy him for £40m from United.
The 27-year-old United loanee made his exit from Old Trafford after he fell down the pecking order under Red Devils manager Ruben Amorim in 2024.
Ruben Amorim made the big call to drop Rashford for United’s 2-1 comeback win over Manchester City in the Premier League clash at the Etihad last December.
The 40-year-old United manager left the door open for the Villa player to fight for his place in the first team, but Rashford admitted his future was away from United.
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Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
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Gabby Agbonlahor speaks out on Marcus Rashford’s Man Utd exit and his second chance at Aston Villa
Marcus Rashford has been afforded the opportunity to secure regular playing time under Aston Villa manager Unai Emery during his six-month loan spell at Villa Park.
The Manchester United player has scored three times and picked up four assists in 11 matches for Villa since his exit from Old Trafford in the January transfer window.
Rashford’s career resurgence under Unai Emery at Villa Park has also led to his return to the England national team squad under Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Gabby Agbonlahor explained: “I said ages ago… that [Rashford] needs an arm around the shoulder.”
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Gabby Agbonlahor uses Angel Di Maria’s post-Man Utd career as a measuring stick for Marcus Rashford’s resurgence at Aston Villa
Agbonlahor added that Rashford has now had the chance to be “free” from playing at United and the England international is “enjoying his time at Aston Villa.”
The talkSPORT pundit claimed Angel Di Maria’s post-United career is an example of the tide turning in Rashford’s favour after his Old Trafford exit.
“How many players are we talking about now? That leave Manchester United and get better – look at [Angel] Di Maria,” Agbonlahor said.
“He’s left Manchester United and gone to be a better player, exactly as it’s happening now.”
“Maybe the key to a top career at the moment is if you’re stuck at Man United, get out of the negative club.
“Everything about the club is negative. Rashford’s free and is enjoying his time at Aston Villa.”
Angel Di Maria impressed early on in his United spell after the Red Devils’ high-profile signing of the 2022 World Cup winner from Real Madrid in 2014.
However, the former Real Madrid winger struggled at Old Trafford and lasted only one season at United before he was sold to Paris Saint-Germain in 2015.
Di Maria has been critical of his time under former United manager Louis van Gaal, but he was able to turn his career back around after he left the Red Devils.