Reports indicate that Marcus Rashford does not blame Ruben Amorim for his current situation at Manchester United. Instead, he believes that a club executive “ordered” his departure.
Initially, Amorim’s arrival was expected to help Rashford regain his best form at Old Trafford. However, rather than providing a fresh start, the new manager’s appointment appears to have accelerated the forward’s exit.
After scoring 30 goals across all competitions in the 2022/23 season, Rashford has struggled with consistency, leading to intense criticism. His attitude has also been questioned, further complicating his situation. While United have been eager to move him on, his high wages have been a significant hurdle. However, reports on Saturday suggested that he is “close” to securing a loan move to Aston Villa.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein:
“Aston Villa are close to agreeing a deal to sign Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United. The proposed move has not yet been finalized as some details still need to be ironed out between all parties.”
Negotiations have advanced considerably, with Villa working to finalize financial terms, meet United’s conditions on salary contributions, and secure Rashford’s approval. The chance to play in the Champions League is reportedly a key factor in his decision, and Villa manager Unai Emery fully supports the move. An option to buy is expected to be included in the deal, with Villa agreeing to cover a significant portion of Rashford’s wages and offering performance-related incentives.
Meanwhile, The Sun has reported that Rashford and Amorim had a dispute shortly after the manager’s arrival. The disagreement allegedly stemmed from claims that Rashford had been out partying before United’s match against Everton on December 1.
A source told The Sun:
“Marcus was called in by Amorim, who said he believed he had broken club rules by going out. Marcus denied the allegations and insisted he had done nothing wrong. He even asked Amorim for proof, reportedly asking, ‘Are you calling me a liar?’ Their relationship never recovered from that, and now, it’s difficult to see how it ever will.”
Despite this, Rashford reportedly believes that United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is behind his likely departure rather than Amorim. The source added:
“Marcus is convinced Sir Jim wants him gone and has essentially instructed Amorim to push him out. He feels he has been treated unfairly and singled out. During early training sessions under Amorim, several players were struggling to adapt to the new system, but Rashford believes he was the only one receiving harsh public criticism.”
Although Rashford recognizes that leaving United may now be inevitable, he is reportedly surprised by the lack of strong interest from major clubs. Financial complications related to his wages and potential transfer fee have discouraged several potential suitors.
The source concluded:
“Marcus is stunned by how quickly his relationship with Amorim has broken down. He knows he needs to move on, but he’s shocked that no top club has gone all-in to sign him.”
