Marcus Rashford's Man Utd return ruled out by Ryan Giggs as club legend admits England star looks 'happier' at Aston Villa

Giggs, who helped oversee Rashford’s senior debut in 2016 under then-manager Louis van Gaal, believes a clean break between club and player may be in the best interest of both sides. The former midfielder noted a visible change in Rashford’s demeanour since his January loan switch to Aston Villa, suggesting that the 27-year-old seems to be playing with more joy and freedom.

While appearing on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Giggs said: "I don't think he looked happy at United. I think he looks happier now. Which is a shame because obviously I'd seen him as a part of the staff when we'd given him his debut. I remember walking over to the reserve team pitches and just watching him. It was a small-sided game, me and Louis walked over, didn't really know him."

Giggs reminisced about the early days when he and Van Gaal first spotted Rashford tearing it up in a youth match.

"We knew a bit about him, but all of a sudden it was just like, bang, bang, bang, goals. Louis went, no, he trains with us. That's the impact that he made," he recalled.

"And he was just like any young player, just playing with freedom. He doesn't look like that. For Marcus and for United, I think it's best if they part ways. He'd be a brilliant player for someone, but I don’t know who."

Rashford remains contracted with United until 2028, and the club now faces a tough decision. With his value still relatively high, a permanent sale could generate significant funds, but there’s also the possibility of extending the loan or even reintegrating him if circumstances change. Any decision, however, will need to be mutual. Rashford’s team has made it clear that no formal talks will take place until at least mid-June, giving both parties time to assess the landscape, especially with the summer transfer window approaching.

Rashford’s current priority appears to be playing at the highest level and is focused on joining a club capable of securing Champions League football. However, Villa’s pursuit of a top-five finish suffered a blow this week after a dramatic late defeat to Manchester City. Despite the setback, Villa remain in contention for a Champions League berth, as they are just two points behind fifth-placed Newcastle, which could play a key role in convincing Rashford to stay.