Update: Marcus Rashford has ‘never been happier’ after leaving Manchester United for Aston Villa News

Marcus Rashford helped Aston Villa to a comeback win that was not enough to get them past Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has “never been happier” during his loan spell at Aston Villa.

A source close to Rashford said the 27-year-old has benefited from a change of scenery at Villa Park, having left boyhood club United in February.

Rashford was instrumental in Villa’s 3-2 Champions League quarter-final second leg comeback win against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night, yet they were eliminated 5-4 on aggregate.

Sources say Rashford has appreciated Villa coach Unai Emery’s man-management during their two-and-a-half months together. Emery started Rashford ahead of striker Ollie Watkins against PSG and Rashford has now lined up in eight of the past ten Villa matches.

Rashford has only scored three goals in 15 games for Villa, who have the option to sign the England international for £40million in the summer.

No definitive decision has been made and members of Rashford’s inner circle believe bigger clubs could be interested. PSG were long-time admirers of Rashford before he signed a five-year, £325,000-a-week contract with United in July 2023. Barcelona fleetingly considered moving for Rashford in the winter transfer window.

The Football Association’s agency transactions between February 2024-25 listed a “contract amendment” under Rashford’s name that was related to his loan. Villa are paying 75% of Rashford’s salary, with a potential rise to 90% depending on performance-based bonuses. Villa face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-final on April 26.

United and Rashford have stayed silent over the specific cause for the breakdown in his relationship with head coach Ruben Amorim and subsequent departure. Rashford was omitted from 11 of the 12 squads he was available for and had not played since December 12 prior to his February transfer.

Rashford scored 15 goals in 18 months for United after he committed to a new contract, having enjoyed a career-best campaign of 30 goals in 2022-23. Rashford was disciplined twice by former manager Erik ten Hag for attending a birthday party hours after a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in October 2023 and clubbing in Belfast days before United’s season restarted in January 2024.

Friction also developed between Rashford and the United matchgoers.

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