Marcus Rashford of Aston Villa looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Aston Villa FC at Etihad Stadium on April 22, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)Marcus Rashford of Aston Villa looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Aston Villa FC at Etihad Stadium on April 22, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Marcus Rashford of Aston Villa looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Aston Villa FC at Etihad Stadium on April 22, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Marcus Rashford is looking to leave Manchester United this summer after a successful loan spell at Villa Park.
Aston Villa fans and players alike will have woken up with more than a hint of frustration this morning after the Villains failed to qualify for the Champions League in controversial circumstances on Sunday.
In a match which could have been defining for the club and many of its stars Villa went down to a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford, though that wasn’t half the story. An already difficult task became far harder when goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez was sent off in the first half of what could have been his last game for the club, taking out Rasmus Hojlund outside the penalty area after a short back-pass by Matty Cash.
While Villa could have few complains about that decision, they were left incensed after Morgan Rogers stole the ball away from goalkeeper Altay Bayindir’s grasp to score the opener - only for referee Thomas Bramall to blow his whistle and disallow the goal before the ball could reach the back of the net. Villa later launched an official complaint to the PGMOL as Bramall’s decision to blow his whistle meant VAR couldn’t get involved in the incident. Amad Diallo would score at the other end just minutes later, before a late penalty conceded by Ian Maatsen rubbed salt into Villa’s wounds.
The club finished in sixth place and the Europa League, which could complicate some of their transfer plans this summer - including potential of a move for four-goal loan star Marcus Rashford.
Aston Villa loan ace Marcus Rashford with big decision to make over the summer
Aston Villa loanee Marcus Rashford will have an important decision about his future on his hands as he prepares to return to parent club United, with his future likely to lie away from Villa Park according to reports.
Football Insider have revealed that Rashford is subject of interest from Barcelona, a move he would be open to making - though his £350,000-a-week wages could provide a stumbling block in negotiations. According to former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown, Rashford could be willing to take a pay cut to secure a move to the Catalan giants. Brown suggested that 27-year-old Rashford would “love” to join La Liga champions Barca, with United hoping to offload him this summer after a return to form with the Villains.
Villa had previously been touted to sign England star Rashford permanently at the end of his loan move, though this could cost a massive £130 million over five years in salary and transfer fee. Rashford will be available for £40m this summer, though Brown believes there to only be three or four teams who could sign him on a permanent deal. This may or may not include Villa, particularly after Unai Emery’s side missed out on Champions League football and the guaranteed windfall it brings.
Marcus Rashford may have to take a significant pay cut or settle for another loan
Brown insisted that a permanent deal for Rashford can only be done if the forward agrees to slash his wages, otherwise he may need to settle for a second loan move and ensure that his long-term future remains up in the air.
Brown said: “There are only three or four teams who could realistically sign him. But it ultimately comes down to whether they can afford him. He’ll have to take a pay cut if he wants to make a permanent move, and perhaps even if it only ends up in a loan move. From what I hear, he would be willing to do that. Barcelona is the one he’d love to join and we know there’s interest, but not on his current wages. If that’s the only way to make it happen, it’s something he will be open to.“
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