Update: Marcus Rashford stance on Manchester United future revealed News

Marcus Rashford was back in Manchester on Tuesday night to score for Aston Villa in their 2-1 defeat to Man City.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford will wait until the summer to make a decision on his future.

Rashford is on loan at Aston Villa for the rest of the season and a source close to the 27-year-old said he has “never been happier” at the Champions League quarter-finalists.

Villa have an option to buy Rashford for £40million but, as the MEN reported last week, Rashford is expected to delay a definitive decision on a summer move amid the prospect that bigger clubs could be interested. Barcelona fleetingly considered an approach for Rashford in the winter transfer window.

Rashford wants to join a Champions League club and has no interest in a move to London. Arsenal and Tottenham were linked with Rashford before he joined Villa in February.

The Rashford camp have also discounted a potential swap deal after reports claimed United would be receptive to trading him for Villa striker Ollie Watkins.

United are unlikely to entertain the prospect of reintegrating Rashford back into the squad after his working relationship with head coach Ruben Amorim broke down six games into the Portuguese’s tenure.

Rashford’s starting role in Villa’s Champions League quarter-finals with Paris Saint-Germain and his recall to the England squad last month make him one of United’s most sellable assets. United hope to fetch the best part of £100m from the sales of forwards Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho.

Rashford has scored four goals in 17 appearances for Villa and started ahead of striker Watkins again in their 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Tuesday night that leaves Villa still in seventh place. Villa take on Crystal Palace in their FA Cup semi-final on Saturday as they attempt to reach the final for the first time since 2000.

“I am so happy with him, he is performing very well,” Villa manager Unai Emery said on Rashford. “His adaptation has been quick, his commitment to the team and his team mates and the process we are doing together.

“He has been really important for us and he has to keep going. Now, on Saturday, hopefully he can help us again and, like everybody, be ready and focused on this match.”

Villa are paying 75% of Rashford’s salary during his loan, with a potential rise to 90% depending on performance-based bonuses. The Football Association’s agency transactions between February 2024-25 listed a “contract amendment” under Rashford’s name that was related to his loan.

United and Rashford have stayed silent over the specific cause for the breakdown in his relationship with 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 mid-season 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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