Man Utd legend Gary Neville sends warning to Marcus Rashford over Aston Villa move
Can the forward get his career back on track at Villa Park?
Manchester United great Gary Neville has told Marcus Rashford to remove any ‘distractions’ that may be occurring in his life in order to get his stuttering career back on track at Aston Villa.
Rashford, 27, signed a six-month loan deal at Villa Park to put weeks of intense speculation over his future to bed with just 24 hours remaining of the January transfer window.
It comes after Rashford intimated that he was keen for a ‘new challenge’ away from boyhood club United, where he has effectively been frozen out by head coach Ruben Amorim.
Despite Rashford managing just 11 goals in the Premier League over the last 18 months, Villa are hopeful the England international can add a new dimension to Unai Emery’s frontline in the second half of the season.
The Villains have also agreed a temporary deal with Paris Saint-Germain for Marco Asensio to help fill the void left by Jhon Duran, who joined Saudi Pro League outfit Al Nassr earlier this month.
‘Rashford had to leave Manchester United, particularly after Ruben Amorim’s comments over the last few weeks. There was no way back for him so he had to find another club,’ ex-United and England right-back Neville told NBC Sports.
‘There are a number of things about the Villa move that I think are in his favour. One, I think he’s going to a better football team at this moment in time. Manchester United fans won’t like hearing that but it’s a fact that Villa are far better than United.
‘I think the style of play of Villa. They’re not a high-press team, they sort of play like a mid-block and then they do counter-attack really well, so I think that will suit him because he’s not someone who really is pressed well at Manchester United.
‘The main thing for me is that he’s playing for one of the best managers and coaches in the world in Unai Emery and he’s got nowhere else do go now, Marcus Rashford.
‘It’s not worked out for him with the last few coaches at Manchester United so if you can’t make it work with Unai Emery then obviously he becomes the problem.’
Neville believes United will be hoping Rashford ‘succeeds’ at Villa in order to drum up interest from potential suitors ahead of a possible bidding war in the summer.
He added: ‘It’s a big opportunity for him to have a good three or four months and get his career back on track.
‘There’s no doubt, he’s had a nightmare in these last 12 to 18 months on and off the pitch, it’s all gone sour for him.
‘Manchester United will obviously want him to succeed as well because they’ll want the money that will help them get better players in the future.’
According to Neville, Rashford must ensure he is 100 per cent focused on his football if he is to resurrect his career over the coming months.
‘I think he will start. Marcus Rashford at his best is an excellent player, he will be a real threat and he can get into that Villa team,’ he went on.
‘What he needs to do is get all the distractions out his life that may be occurring and concentrate on his football again, without, maybe, the spotlight that Manchester United brings.
‘Villa might just be the perfect club for him but we’ll obviously find out very quickly.’
Despite strong interest from the likes of Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Galatasaray, Rashford said he was left with an ‘easy decision’ once Villa entered the running for his signature.
‘I would like to thank Manchester United and Aston Villa for making this loan deal happen,’ he told Villa’s official website.
‘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 managers’ ambitions. 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.’
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