Marcus Rashford given ‘disastrous’ warning at Aston Villa: ‘You can’t be like that’
Marcus Rashford has been warned that he needs to show more consistency if his move to Aston Villa is to be made permanent in the summer and his career isn’t going to fall away.
The 27-year-old made the switch to Villa in the January transfer window in a loan deal for the rest of the season, which includes an option to buy for £40million in the summer [BBC].
Despite not paying a loan fee, Villa are covering 75% of Rashford‘s estimated £300,000 a week salary for his services.
Rashford has made an excellent start to life under Unai Emery, contributing three goals and four assists in just 266′ minutes across 11 appearances.
However, former Arsenal midfielder, Paul Merson has issued a warning to Rashford claiming that he needs to do more to prove himself between now and the end of the season, if Villa are to commit to such huge financial demands to sign him from Manchester United in the summer.
Rashford still needs to prove himself at Aston Villa
Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson said: “It’s confidence. Every footballer in the world if they could bottle one thing up it would be confidence.
“When players have confidence, it’s a different game, a completely different game – it comes a lot easier, football.
“He’s doing really well at the moment and I’m pleased for him, because I am a great believer that the cream always rises to the top.
“They’ve got at least 11 games to go – eight in the league then the two in the Champions League against PSG and the FA Cup semi-final.
“At least 11, hopefully more. That’s a long time in football and he needs to perform for those 11 games.
“He can’t keep on going through his career like he has where he has had one brilliant season and then an absolute disastrous season.
“You can’t be like that, especially with the wages he is on and how much he is going to cost. He needs to be consistent and I think these next 11 games are massive football games in Rashford’s career.
“I think his days are numbered at Manchester United. I can’t see him going back to Man Utd.
“These next 11 games are massive for Aston Villa and I think he’ll get judged on that.”
Aston Villa are yet to decide whether to sign Rashford permanently
Football Insider verdict
At this point, it is unclear whether Villa have the desire or financial power to sign Rashford on a permanent basis this summer, without it affecting plans to bring players in elsewhere.
It also begs the question of what his best position is under Emery, as the Spaniard has opted for the England international playing off the left in his system, but his best moments have come through the middle so far.
Playing in place of Ollie Watkins during Villa’s FA Cup quarter-final clash against Preston North End, Rashford scored twice in a 3-0 win, and went onto secure the Man of the Match award.
| Rashford stats 24/25 all competitions | Watkins stats 24/25 all comps |
| Games – 35 | Games – 43 |
| Goals – 10 | Goals – 14 |
| Assists – 7 | Assists – 12 |
Emery opted to continue Rashford’s momentum in the position on Wednesday night [April 1], when the England international was deployed through the middle again in Villa’s impressive win over Brighton.
The Man United loanee showcased what he could bring to the side on a permanent basis next season, utilising his electric pace to latch onto Morgan Rogers’ pass before showing the composure to dink his finish over the onrushing Bart Vergruggen.
It means question marks remain over not only Rashford’s place in the starting eleven under Emery, but whether his performances between now and the end of the season can tempt Villa into signing him from Manchester United.