Latest Developments:
- Aston Villa signed Marcus Rashford on loan after he spent 20 years at Manchester United.
- The 27-year-old has already praised Unai Emery, calling him a top manager.
- However, the door is still open for a Barcelona move in the summer.
Whisper+ Analysis:
Authenticity (4/5): Coming back home a long shot
Marcus Rashford departed from the Red Devils under less-than-ideal circumstances, with Aston Villa pouncing upon the opportunity to sign the enigmatic forward on a half-season loan.
According to The Guardian, the relationship between the England forward and his boyhood club is beyond repair, even if Ruben Amorim leaves in the near future.
The Guardian's fellow London-based mainstream luminaries iNews also state that that the door is open for a Barcelona transfer.
Value (3/5): Everything hinges on the UCL
The Englishman is contracted at Old Trafford until the summer of 2028, but the £40m buy option makes it unlikely that he’ll return there anytime soon.
Villa won’t pay a loan fee but will cover 75% of Rashford’s wages, securing a bargain deal as they push for a top four Premier League finish.
A lot is going to hinge on Villa getting into the UCL for a second successive season, given the high wage demands. Unlike the currently eighth-placed Midlands side, Barcelona boast an eight-point cushion inside the top-four in their own league, so such an investment will likely suit their agenda better.
Suitability (4/5): Rashford wants to win at all costs
Rashford’s transfer to Villa marks his first move away from Manchester United, where he began his journey at just seven years old. Under Emery’s guidance, he’s sure to make an immediate impact in the Villans' squad.
However, even if he performs well on a personal level, that won't be enough if Villa's poor post-European form continues, as it did when they followed up a lung-busting, final 16 berth-securing 4-2 UCL win over Celtic with a 2-0 loss to relegation candidates Wolves.
There's also the inescapable fact that Barcelona thrive on high-intensity football, and operate a high press that can only aid him in his quest to rediscover his true potential. If he was to work on his off-the-ball game in the meantime, any summer move to Catalonia would be all the more mouthwatering.
Upgrade (3/5): Elevating standards
As noted when the Barcelona link first emerged a fortnight before deadline day, he would provide a great deal of competition for Raphinha on the flanks, as well as granting Barca the sort of depth that could stop Real Madrid from running away with the league.
Logic (3/5): Career progression first
For the moment, Rashford will be eager to make a significant impact at Villa Park, and aid the process of bedding in with fellow newcomers Marco Asensio and Axel Disasi.
Before joining a team like Man Utd or Barcelona, which has a fanbase that measures success by trophies rather than top-four finishes, he needs to (quite literally) find his feet with Villa first.
Whisper+ Verdict: 17/25
At the moment, it makes no sense for Rashford to return to his boyhood club, as Manchester United’s issues are far more complex than expected.
We also feel that only a second straight year at Europe's top table will be enough to keep Rashford at Villa Park, but with the Villans being so inconsistent compared to last season, Barcelona should have every hope of swooping in on him when July rolls around.
