Ten Hag “didn’t want” to sell Man Utd star

It was remarkably simply over six years in the past that Marcus Rashford loved one of many best moments of his Manchester United profession, with the Englishman rifling residence from the penalty spot to ship Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s aspect into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The United academy graduate had been the undoing of Paris Saint-Germain with that last-gasp spot-kick, whereas he additionally netted once more within the Parc des Princes throughout the 2020/21 marketing campaign, to clinch one other well-known win for Solskjaer and co.

One thing concerning the Ligue 1 aspect seems to convey the very best out of the 27-year-old, it might appear, with the in-form ahead having once more been electrical when dealing with off with the Parisien outfit – albeit this time in Aston Villa colors.

The Crimson Devils outcast put in a merely masterful show by way of the center for Unai Emery’s aspect, having notably produced a wide ranging help for Villa’s third of the evening because the hosts flipped the encounter on its head. In reality, it was classic Rashford.

Frustratingly for the Villans, they may not full the comeback after bravely crashing out, whereas for these again in Manchester, such a effective particular person show might have Ruben Amorim pondering twice over his choice to exile the £300k-per-week marksman.

However would a return to Outdated Trafford actually be in the very best curiosity of all events this summer season?

Why Rashford nonetheless must be bought this summer season

So far as Rashford is anxious, the choice to make the transfer to Villa Park again in February may hardly have gone higher, with the Midlands aspect additionally nonetheless within the combine for a prime 5 end within the Premier League, whereas having additionally reached the final 4 of the FA Cup.

The polarising sensation has been central to Emery’s plans in latest months, with the help for Ezri Konsa final evening taking his complete tally to 9 purpose involvements in simply 15 appearances since making the transfer. Jesse Lingard at West Ham United anybody?

Free from the shackles and the scrutiny of being a Manchester United participant, Rashford has seemed reborn in claret and blue, with Tuesday evening seeing him create 4 huge probabilities in complete – greater than every other participant on the pitch.

That show backed up Emery’s choice to as soon as once more choose his mortgage star forward of compatriot, Ollie Watkins, within the centre-forward berth, with the Villans boasting attacking depth that Amorim can solely dream of – not least with Joshua Zirkzee now sidelined with harm.

Talking on Amazon Prime, United legend Wayne Rooney prompt that he would “love” to see Rashford again enjoying for the Crimson Devils subsequent season, whereas additionally claiming that the participant himself “desires” to be again on the Theatre of Desires.

That stated, it was solely in December that the England worldwide outlined his need for a “new problem” after being given the chilly shoulder by Amorim, with it troublesome to see any type of reconciliation occurring forward of subsequent season.

Certainly, having discovered his groove at Villa, why would Rashford threat enduring one other stop-start marketing campaign again at his father or mother membership – not least contemplating three of the final 4 seasons have been slightly underwhelming for him in a United shirt.

As for the membership itself, the prospect to rake in a £40m payment from Villa – a deal that might signify pure revenue – is little doubt troublesome to show down, with it maybe finest for everybody {that a} everlasting separation happens this summer season.

That stated, even when Amorim and co do change their thoughts, at the least they’ve solely opted to mortgage out Rashford to this point, with the choice of a homecoming nonetheless on the desk. The identical cannot be stated for everybody that INEOS have let go…

Man Utd might have made an even bigger mistake than Rashford

It seems to be a rising theme that gamers who’ve left Outdated Trafford have gone on to shine elsewhere, albeit with the membership having largely been right in shifting these gamers on.

Certainly, within the case of Anthony Elanga, the Swedish speedster had scored simply 4 targets in 55 video games for United previous to departing for Nottingham Forest. David de Gea, in the meantime, was public enemy primary for his mistake within the FA Cup remaining, earlier than being allowed to depart for nothing.

Equally, the likes of Antony and Jadon Sancho – now on mortgage at Actual Betis and Chelsea – had hardly pulled up any bushes following their £86m and £73m arrivals, respectively, with the pair netting simply 24 targets between them in 179 video games.

Even Rashford had endured a depressing 18 months after scoring simply 15 targets for United following the beginning of the 2023/24 marketing campaign, with few of a Crimson Devils persuasion having contested with any of these exits on the time.

Within the case of Scott McTominay, nevertheless, it could be a special story, with the Scotland star having really been one in every of Erik ten Hag’s key males final time period, earlier than sealing a £25m transfer to Napoli over the summer season.

Certainly, the 28-year-old was the Dutchman’s rescue act having repeatedly delivered the products in an attacking sense, with the rampaging midfielder – who notably netted a brace on the dying towards Brentford – ending the season with ten targets to his title in all competitions.

The joint third-highest scorer for United in the long run in 2023/24, McTominay gave the impression to be thriving in a sophisticated midfield berth, albeit with the need to fulfill PSR laws – and the pursuit of fellow midfielder, Manuel Ugarte – resulting in INEOS deciding to money in.

Ten Hag has since admitted that he “did not need” to promote the 6 foot 4 large, but was nearly “compelled” into agreeing to the choice because of the membership’s monetary constraints.

As it’s, McTominay has gone on to dazzle in Naples in 2024/25 thus far, with the midfield “monster” – as hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson – notably netting twice final outing to maintain Antonio Conte’s aspect in title rivalry.

These newest strikes – each of which have been assisted by Romelu Lukaku, no much less – showcased simply what the Lancaster-born hero is all about. Certainly, for his first of the evening, McTominay charged from deep earlier than curling residence from outdoors the realm. For his second, the ex-Crimson Satan expertly headed residence after towering above the Empoli defence.

The rising Naples sensation now has eight Serie A targets to his title this season, with solely Bruno Fernandes in a position to match that tally for league targets again in Manchester.

McTominay is then choosing up the place he left off final time period, with INEOS having made a uncommon transfer for United by promoting a participant who was really in type – in contrast to the exiled Rashford.

With the Crimson Devils now within the midst of their worst-ever Premier League marketing campaign, that daring name would not seem to have aged properly…