- Marcus Rashford sealed his loan move to Aston Villa until the end of the season
- Ruben Amorim had refused to select the forward, questioning his application
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A Manchester United icon has accused Ruben Amorim of handling Marcus Rashford’s first-team exile disrespectfully after the forward joined Aston Villa on loan.
Rashford completed his move until the end of the season yesterday and the deal includes an option for Villa to sign him permanently for a pre-agreed £40million fee.
As reported by Mail Sport, Villa are understood to be covering 70 per cent of his hefty weekly wage, while the loan package also includes bonuses for progressing in Europe and for qualifying for the Champions League again next season.
The 27-year-old has not played for United since mid-December, having fallen out with boss Amorim, and expressed his desire for a new challenge in a bombshell interview.
Amorim publicly questioned the superstar’s application in training and declared he would have to drastically change his attitude to be brought back in from the cold.
A series of stinging comments laid bare the manager’s frustration, including one frank remark in which he said he would rather play his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach, Jorge Vital, instead of selecting a player who does not give their ‘maximum’.
Ruben Amorim has been accused of being disrespectful toward Marcus Rashford
Rashford sealed his loan move to Aston Villa after being exiled at Manchester United
However, Mikael Silvestre, who won four Premier League titles during a glittering nine-year stay at United, believes Amorim went too far.
‘I think it’s too much. I think it’s disrespectful,’ Silvestre said on beIN Sports. ‘You can say over the time he’s been in charge, his communication has been difficult for him.
‘Losing games, having player selection difficult, injuries.
‘But talking about Marcus in such a way, nine years old he joined Manchester United, I think this type of conversation, you can have it privately. In public, I don’t think that does anyone any favours, the team, the owners or Marcus.’
Villa officially confirmed Rashford’s arrival last night, saying: ‘Aston Villa is delighted to announce the loan signing of Marcus Rashford from Manchester United.
‘The England international, capped 60 times by the Three Lions, joins Villa on a deal until the end of the season. Welcome, Marcus!’
Rashford also took to Instagram to relay the news to his followers, writing: ‘I would like to thank Manchester United and Aston Villa for making this loan deal happen.
‘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.’
But Mikael Silvestre believes Amorim went too far with some of his remarks on the forward
Rashford has signed for Villa until the end of the season and the deal could become permanent
Amorim challenged Rashford to change his attitude to earn a reprieve at Old Trafford
On the same day, United slumped to a woeful 2-0 defeat by Crystal Palace at Old Trafford, just weeks after Amorim said his side were the worst in the club’s history.
‘I think he meant to get a reaction from the team and he did,’ Silvestre added. ‘It didn’t last long enough. In terms of going forward, we’re talking about surgery.
‘This is going to take years. I don’t know how much he will have to invest to build a team that responds to his way of playing, his formation and the way he wants to attack. He’s always talking about attack.
‘I want to make sure we don’t concede first, especially at Old Trafford. Everyone’s coming to Old Trafford and rolling over us.’
