MANCHESTER, United Kingdom, Feb 3, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Aston Villa signed
Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United for the rest of the season on
Sunday to end the England international's exile under Ruben Amorim at Old
Trafford.

Once a hero for the United fans, Rashford has not featured for his boyhood
club since December 12 and admitted earlier this season he was ready for a
"new challenge".

The 27-year-old had been linked with a move to AC Milan and Barcelona, but
the European giants were put off by his reported œ300,000-a-week ($372,000)
wages.

According to Sky Sports, Villa will pick up at least 75 percent of that pay
packet for the coming months, rising to 90 percent depending on performance-
related bonuses and have an option to make the deal permanent at the end of
the season for œ40 million.

"I was lucky to have a few clubs approach me but Aston Villa was an easy
decision - I really admire the way that Aston Villa have been playing this
season, and the manager's ambitions," said Rashford in a Villa statement.

"I just want to play football and am excited to get started. I wish everyone
at Manchester United all the best for the rest of the season."

Villa moved to bolster their attacking options after selling Colombia striker
Jhon Duran to Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr on Friday for a reported œ64
million.

Unai Emery's men have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League and
still have aspirations to qualify for that tournament again next season.

Villa sit eighth in the Premier League, eight points above 13th-placed
United.

Rashford scored 138 goals in 426 appearances since coming through the ranks
at Old Trafford and has lifted the Europa League, two FA Cups and two League
Cups as a United player.

However, his attitude and work ethic in training has been questioned by
Amorim, since he took charge in November.

After last weekend's 1-0 win at Fulham, the Portuguese coach sensationally
claimed he would rather put the club's 63-year-old goalkeeping coach, Jorge
Vital, in the squad than Rashford.

"Our team should be so much better with Rashford, but he has to change,"
Amorim said last week.

"If he does change, we are more than welcome to put a talent like Rashford
in, and we need it.

"But in this moment I think it's really clear that we have to set some
standards. That's all."

A temporary switch to Villa allows Rashford a fresh start to rehabilitate his
tarnished reputation after his astonishing fall from grace.

He was part of England's World Cup squad just over two years ago and scored a
career-best 30 goals in the 2022/23 campaign.

But he netted just eight times last season and has seven in 24 appearances so
far this campaign.