'Strange thing' - Marcus Rashford's move to Aston Villa questioned by Roy Keane as Man Utd legend sends warning to forward

Rashford’s departure from Manchester United comes after an underwhelming spell under manager Ruben Amorim, who admitted that he struggled to get the England international to align with his footballing philosophy. Concerns over Rashford’s commitment in training had been circulating for months, leading to speculation over his future at the club.

With Aston Villa stepping in to offer him a fresh start, Rashford now has the opportunity to reignite his career under Unai Emery. However, Keane has raised doubts about whether a move to Villa Park will provide the necessary motivation for Rashford to rediscover his best form.

Speaking ahead of Manchester United’s FA Cup clash with Leicester City on ITV, Keane voiced his concerns about Rashford’s desire to succeed and said: “If he’s lost the hunger at Man United – how will he get it at Aston Villa? Once you lose the hunger it’s hard to get it back. It’s sad but it’s been on the cards for the last year or two, especially since the new manager has come in. Clearly, they didn’t get on.

“The manager got no reaction from Marcus. The strange thing for me was I thought when Marcus was going to leave Man United he was going to go abroad and try something new. A new adventure for him, a different league, a different challenge. To go to Villa surprises me a little bit. I know Aston Villa are going along nicely, but you can’t compare them to Manchester United.”

Despite starting in Amorim’s first six matches, Rashford soon found himself on the fringes of the squad. His situation worsened when he was dropped for the Manchester derby in mid-December, a decision that seemingly solidified his desire to seek a "fresh challenge". Rashford’s final appearance for United came in a Europa League clash against Viktoria Plzen on December 12, after which he did not feature for the club again.

With questions lingering over his motivation and long-term future, Rashford’s spell at Aston Villa will be crucial in determining whether he can rediscover the form that once made him one of the Premier League’s brightest talents. His first opportunity to impress in Villa colours could come on Sunday, February 9, when the team will face Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the FA Cup.