Rashford verdict by Man Utd over return as he finds form at Villa

Ruben Amorim is preparing to kickstart Manchester United’s season after the international break with a trip to high-flying Nottingham Forest next week, but off-field speculation continues to swirl around Marcus Rashford’s future.

The 27-year-old forward, currently on loan at Aston Villa, has been warned about the challenges of returning to Old Trafford, as club chiefs appear to have made a definitive call on his long-term exit.

Rashford’s departure from United in February 2025 came after a public falling-out with Amorim, who admitted he couldn’t align the player’s approach to his vision of football.

“I couldn’t get Marcus to see the way you’re supposed to play football and to train the way I see it,” Amorim said earlier this season.

Since joining Villa, Rashford has rediscovered some of his spark, contributing three assists in nine appearances, including a standout performance in a 2-1 comeback win over Chelsea.

His form has earned him a recall to the England squad under Thomas Tuchel, but it hasn’t softened United’s stance.

Mirror Football understands that Amorim and the United hierarchy, led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, have decided Rashford has no future at the club as long as the Portuguese manager remains in charge.

Villa hold an option to buy the academy graduate for £40m this summer—a fee that could rise if his performances continue to impress—but former United goalkeeper Ben Foster has cautioned that a return to Old Trafford could be a misstep.

Speaking on his Fozcast podcast, Foster said: “He’s enjoying his football at Villa, but if he goes back to United, it’s the same environment, the same pressures. I’d be worried he’d slip back into old habits. They’ve made their bed by letting him go, and it looks final.”

Rashford’s struggles at United—where he managed just seven goals in 33 appearances this season before his loan—contrast sharply with his early days under Unai Emery at Villa Park.

Villa sporting director Monchi has tipped him for further growth, telling Radio Marca: “Unai is a coach who has historically helped players grow. Coming here makes players better, and that’s our main selling point.”

Yet, uncertainty lingers over whether Villa will commit to a permanent deal, with their finances potentially stretched by a push for Champions League qualification.

The Red Devils, meanwhile, are gearing up for a crucial run-in, with Amorim hoping to build on a promising spell of form that has seen them climb from the depths of the Premier League table.

The trip to the City Ground on April 1 will test their mettle against a Forest side flying high in the top six. For Rashford, though, the focus is on his next steps. Sources close to the player suggest he’s keen to make his Villa move permanent, relishing the fresh start after a turbulent 20-year association with United ended in January.

Elsewhere, United face additional transfer headaches. Goalkeeper Andre Onana, another player reportedly on the chopping block, has been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League after a season marred by three errors leading to goals in the Premier League.

“There’s interest from Saudi clubs,” a source told Mirror Football. “Amorim’s looking at options to replace him.” With up to eight players potentially leaving this summer, Rashford’s exit seems set in stone—but Foster’s warning serves as a reminder that any return could undo his recent revival.