Marcus Rashford is extremely unlikely to play competitively for Manchester United again even if Ruben Amorim is no longer the head coach, with the relationship between the forward and his boyhood club near irreparable.
Rashford joined Aston Villa on loan on Sunday for the rest of the season and the 27-year-old forward is expected to depart again in the summer, permanently or on loan, even if Amorim is no longer there. The England international has a contract at Old Trafford until 2028.
There remains an outside possibility that Rashford could play again for United in pre-season, should Amorim have departed. Last summer Jadon Sancho and Erik ten Hag, Amorim’s predecessor, reached a rapprochement after their fallout, which led to Sancho playing in warm‑up games. Sancho then joined Chelsea on a season’s loan.
Amorim denied that it would be embarrassing for United should Rashford prove prolific for Villa, who confirmed the loan signing of the Paris Saint-Germain forward Marco Asensio on deadline day, and it is understood that there is no call‑back clause in the loan to cover for this eventuality.
Rashford, who will wear No 9 for his new side, said the Villa manager, Unai Emery, was a key factor in attracting him to the club. “He’s a top manager and what he’s done for the club since coming in is unbelievable,” he told Villa TV.
“It’s their constant ambition which is attractive and why you want to join such a club. You want to keep improving year on year and that’s what the team’s been doing.
“They are still in the Champions League and we want to go as far as we can in that and if you don’t aim to win it you’ll never win it, so that will be my main objective and keep pushing in the league to get as high as possible. This is my first time playing for any other team so you don’t know what to expect but it’s been more excitement, not scared of going into a new environment.”
Rashford, who could make his debut when Villa meet Spurs in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday, said: “I had to choose somewhere where my style of football is suited and can help them and help me rediscover and improve as a player. It’s only short‑term and I want to make the most of my time here.”
Asensio, a 29-year-old former Real Madrid player, has been loaned by PSG after a season and a half there. He has started 10 games this season but none since 22 November.
Villa were also poised on Monday night to complete the loan signing of the Chelsea centre-back Axel Disasi for the rest of the season. The clubs agreed a £5m loan fee, with Villa covering the 26-year-old’s salary and confirming the deal at 1m on Tuesday.
Spurs had also been keen on Disasi, who will ease Emery’s defensive issues. Chelsea signed Disasi from Monaco for £38m in August 2023. He has slipped out of favour under Enzo Maresca, making just six Premier League appearances this season.
United did not move for defensive cover on deadline day despite fears Lisandro Martínez sustained a serious knee injury on Sunday in the 2-0 defeat by Crystal Palace that could rule him out for the season. Reports in his native Argentina said it was an anterior ligament injury. Amorim has the centre-backs Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro, Victor Lindelöf, Jonny Evans and Ayden Heaven. Noussair Mazraoui, Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw and Patrick Dorgu can also play in a back three.
The club also did not replace Rashford or Antony, who moved on loan to Real Betis, leaving Amorim with only four frontline forwards: Rasmus Højlund, Joshua Zirkzee, Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho.
Despite Dorgu and the 18‑year‑old defender Heaven being the head coach’s sole additions, it is understood United’s football leadership is content with the window’s business. A loan of Mathys Tel broke down after Bayern Munich demanded a £5m fee.
