Marcus Rashford breaks silence after sealing Aston Villa loan | OneFootball

Marcus Rashford has posted "I just want to play football" after completing a loan move to Aston Villa from Manchester United.

The 27-year-old completed a medical on Sunday after falling out of favour at Old Trafford, and joins Unai Emery's side until the end of the season with a £40m option to buy.

Rashford had been cast aside by Ruben Amorim at United, who has repeatedly cited a lack of effort, commitment and focus in training, but now has the opportunity to rebuild his career at a team who are through to the last 16 of the Champions League and are hopeful of finishing inside the Premier League's top four for a second year in a row.

"I would like to thank Manchester United and Aston Villa for making this loan deal happen.," Rashford posted on Instagram of his move.

"I was lucky to have a few clubs approach me but Aston Villa was an easy decision - I really admire the way that Aston Villa have been playing this season, and the manager's ambitions. I just want to play football and am excited to get started.

"I wish everyone at Manchester United all the best for the rest of the season."

Rashford has spent his entire professional career at United, breaking into the first-team as a teenager back in 2016. He has made in excess of 400 appearances in all competitions since, also becoming a regular starter for England at major tournaments.

He had been a loan target for AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United, but will forge a new path in the Midlands as Villa push to strengthen their already impressive squad before the January window closes.

Marco Asensio, formerly of Real Madrid and now of Paris Saint-Germain, is expected to follow Rashford to Villa on loan, days after the club boosted their bank balance with the £71m sale of Jhon Duran to Al Nassr.