Marcus Rashford has revealed that his decision to join Aston Villa on loan from Manchester United until the end of the season was largely motivated by the club's "constant ambition." This transfer comes after a challenging two months for Rashford at Old Trafford, where he struggled to secure a regular spot in the first team under head coach Ruben Amorim.
Rashford is set to join a Villa squad currently positioned eighth in the Premier League, just four points shy of the coveted top four. The team has also progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League following a successful group stage. In an interview with VillaTV, he expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity, stating, "It's an ambitious time for this club and a great opportunity for me to join the team and help them keep pushing forward. I'm excited, can't wait for the first training session and obviously the first game."
The England international has spoken highly of Villa's head coach, Unai Emery, describing him as a "top manager" and acknowledging the positive influence of his leadership. Rashford articulated the appeal of Villa's ambition, remarking, "It's the constant ambition that's attractive, and it's why you want to join such a club. You want to keep improving year on year, and that's what the team has been doing and are doing this year."
He noted Villa's strong league standing, their participation in the Champions League, and the impressive talent within the squad, saying, "It's a club that's in a good position in the league, and they're pushing to get higher. Still in the Champions League, a good, ambitious manager and great talent in the squad."
Rashford emphasised the importance of aligning with a club that complements his playing style, declaring, "I've had to choose somewhere where I feel my style of football is suited to, and can help them and help me rediscover and improve as a player." He is determined to make the most of his short-term loan, stating, "Obviously it's only short-term I'm here, so I want to make the most of my time here, and the only way to do that is by using my attributes and my skillset to help the team."
Before the formal interview, Rashford took to social media to express his gratitude towards both Manchester United and Aston Villa for facilitating the loan move. "I just want to play football," he mentioned in his post, alluding to his recent difficulties in securing match time. Reports from 90min suggest that Rashford's arrival is expected to significantly bolster Villa's ambitions as they navigate a demanding season across multiple competitions.