Unai Emery has revealed he is ready to “exploit” Marcus Rashford’s potential after the 27-year-old completed his first week of training as an Aston Villa player following his loan move from Manchester United.
Issues in Manchester
Rashford has not played for the Red Devils since December 12 in the Europa League against Viktoria Plzen.
Three days later, the forward was dropped from the match-day squad for the Manchester Derby with Ruben Amorim explaining it “was not a disciplinary thing”, but rather a result of performances in training.
However, a few days after this triumphant 2-1 win over Manchester City, Rashford released an interview revealing he was ready for a “new challenge” away from Old Trafford. He has not played a minute for his boyhood club since.
Amorim has been steadfast in his assessment that Rashford’s standards in training and off the pitch were unacceptable, while acknowledging the 27-year-old’s qualities as a footballer.
The club’s hierarchy back backed their head coach completely, looking to facilitate a departure for Rashford in the January window. However, the Englishman’s exorbitant wage packet – believed to around £325,000 a week – has deterred prospective suitors, despite interest from Barcelona, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund, among others.
But it was not until the Saudi Pro League’s unexpected capture of Jhon Duran from Aston Villa put the Midlands club in the race for Rashford, with Unai Emery personally approving the move.
The Villains have agreed to pay 75% of Rashford’s wages, though this may rise to 90% with performance bonuses, far exceeding offers from Europe.
And with the February 3 deadline fast approaching for the January window, Old Trafford officials sanctioned the move, despite the 27-year-old’s full wage packet not being covered as had originally been hoped and Rashford joining a Premier League rival.
A Happy Home in Birmingham
The influence of Emery and his belief Rashford is one of the “best” forwards in the world was reportedly key to convincing the 27-year-old to swap Manchester for Birmingham.
The Spanish coach firmly believes his personal touch can help the forward regain the 2022/23 form which saw him lauded across European football, while envisioning Rashford as an option as a left-winger, right-winger, centre-forward or even a number ten.
And speaking in a press-conference today ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup fixtures, Emery reiterated how “happy” he is to have Rashford in his squad.
“I am very happy with the transfer window we had, I am very happy with [Rashford]. The conversation I had with him was a very normal conversation [between] a player and coach, speaking about football.
“I think his capacity, his potential still being huge to exploit. I don’t want to know [what happened] in Manchester…but I am very happy to try to exploit and to help him to recover his performances individually and collectively”.
Emery does concede it is a “huge challenge” to get Rashford performing in a Villa shirt, however.
The Spaniard described Rashford’s performances in training today as “fantastic”, offering Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Tottenham Hotspur as a possible “next step” for the 27-year-old.
If, and it’s big if, Emery is able to to help Rashford recapture his best form, the £40 million obligation clause in the loan deal with United will soon like a very wise piece of negotiating at Villa Park. If he’s unable to, United will have saved a significant amount of money on wages for a player unwanted by their head coach.
Featured image Stephen Pond via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
