Wayne Rooney confessed he was unsurprised by how Manchester United handled Marcus Rashford before his exit. The 27-year-old forward joined Aston Villa on loan towards the end of the transfer window and will hope to finish the season with a flourish. Rashford has not played since United’s Europa League win over Viktoria Plzen on December 12, only featuring in one of the last 12 matchday squads. United boss Ruben Amorim consistently referred to Rashford’s efforts in training as the reason he was left out of his plans. "You can see on the bench we miss a bit of pace on the bench, but I would put [Manchester United goalkeeper coach Jorge] Vital before a player who doesn't give the maximum every day,” he said last month.

Rashford, who has 10 goal contributions so far this term, will hope to make a better impression on Villa boss Unai Emery. United legend Rooney admitted that he told his former team-mate to leave the club earlier in his career and was not shocked by United’s treatment of Rashford, having seen him training alone while the rest of the squad was in London ahead of their recent win over Fulham. “I went into Carrington on Sunday to take my kids to game day and Marcus was out on the training pitch with the fitness coach,” Rooney told the Stick to Football podcast. “But he was right over towards where the parents were walking past for the kids’ games. I looked at him thinking how embarrassing it must be for him as parents walk past.".

He added: “I was surprised when this started over two years ago, but now I’m not. I’ve spoken to Marcus a couple of times and I’ve given him my thoughts and feelings that he needs to leave the club, because whatever is going on his life and at United, he’s not the same. “For him to have a fresh start, he needs to leave the club. The fact that your manager is coming out and saying that you’re not training right is crazy.”.

While Rashford has sealed a temporary move to Villa, the Guardian has reported that he has very likely played his final game for United, regardless of whether Amorim or another manager is in charge next season. The relationship with his boyhood club is claimed to be beyond repair, and Villa have a £40million option to sign him in the summer. The England international signed a five-year contract with United in 2023 following his stellar season at the start of Erik ten Hag’s reign. However, it seems that there is little chance of Rashford being reintegrated into United’s plans in the future, even if Villa opt against a permanent deal.

Speaking about his decision to join Emery’s side, Rashford told Villa TV: “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. 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.”.

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