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Marcus Rashford: Old Trafford dream ends in bitter split

4. February 2025
(foto: Getty Images)
Marcus Rashford was once the face of Manchester United, but his dramatic decline has now led to a loan move to Aston Villa with an option to buy, marking the end of a once-promising chapter at Old Trafford.

Rashford seemed destined for greatness when he signed a five-year contract worth £325,000 per week in July 2023, just after scoring 30 goals in the 2022/23 season. Off the pitch, he was widely praised for his activism, forcing a UK government U-turn on free school meals and appearing on the cover of British Vogue as one of “The Faces of Hope.”

However, his relationship with United deteriorated, culminating in Sunday’s move to Villa. The 27-year-old, who joined the club at seven and burst onto the scene as a teenager in 2016, leaves having scored 138 goals in 426 appearances, winning the Europa League, FA Cup, and League Cup twice.

The downfall began in December 2022. Returning from the World Cup in top form, Rashford was dropped by then-manager Erik ten Hag for oversleeping and missing a team meeting before a match against Wolves. Although he came off the bench to score the winner, his professionalism was questioned again in January 2024 when he missed training after reportedly partying in Northern Ireland.

Concerns over his work ethic grew. Gary Neville warned him to "calm down," while United’s managerial changes saw him struggle to settle into a consistent role. Left out of England’s Euro 2024 squad, Rashford managed just one goal in his first 11 league games this season.

His trip to New York during the November international break, where he attended an NBA game, was widely criticized as another sign of lost focus. He responded by scoring Ruben Amorim’s first goal as United boss in a win over Ipswich but soon fell out of favor again.

The final breaking point came in December. Amorim left Rashford out of the squad for a derby against Manchester City, questioning his attitude and work rate. The forward then publicly stated he was “ready for a new challenge.” Amorim later made his stance clear, joking that United’s 63-year-old goalkeeping coach had a better chance of playing than Rashford.

Gary Neville believes the move to Villa could revive Rashford’s career.

"There are a number of things that are in his favor at Villa. He's going to a far better team at this moment, he's going to a coach who's world-class, which is a real opportunity for him. He had to get out of the club," Neville told Sky Sports.

With Aston Villa sitting eight points ahead of United and pushing for a Champions League spot, Rashford now has a fresh start under Unai Emery. Whether he can rediscover his best form remains to be seen.

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