Wayne Rooney backtracks on what Man United 'must do' over Marcus Rashford decision

Feargal Brennan

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Wayne Rooney backtracks on what Man United 'must do' over Marcus Rashford decision image

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Aston Villa's drive for a historic spot in the UEFA Champions League semifinals fell just short as Unai Emery's side were edged out by Luis Enrique's superb PSG team at Villa Park.

Despite heading into their quarterfinal second-leg trailing 3-1 from an opening defeat in Paris - and falling 2-0 behind early on in the second clash - Emery's charges rallied brilliantly.

Three goals either side of the break dragged Villa to within a single-goal gap on aggregate, but it was not to be, as PSG eased on into the semifinals.

Heartbreak was mixed with pride for the Villa fans, who came so close, with loan star Marcus Rashford doing his level-best to fire them into the final four.

Emery made the bold call to start the Manchester United loanee over Ollie Watkins as the leading light in Villa's attack, and Rashford stepped up, via an assist for Ezri Konsa's goal and an eye-catching performance.

Villa fans remain on the fence about retaining Rashford permanently from 2025/26 onwards, as the club have a £40m [$52.7m] purchase option on the England international, which Emery is still undecided on.

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Emery will now focus on Villa's incoming FA Cup semifinal and the race to finish in the UCL spots for next season - with the Premier League now granted a fifth place for 2025/26.

Despite the speculation over Villa keeping Rashford, former United star Wayne Rooney believes Ruben Amorim should be doing everything to get Rashford back to Old Trafford, despite his previous criticism of the 27-year-old.

What did Rooney say on Rashford's Man United return?

The insertion of that purchase clause indicates United are open to a sale - with Amorim not considering Rashford as part of his current plans - but his current contract back in Manchester runs until 2028.

Rooney has been an outspoken critic of Rashford's conduct at United prior to his loan exit - with the striker coming in for some stern words after his admission of wanting a new challenge - which the Red Devils record scorer did not like.

"I've spoken to Marcus a couple of times," he said on Sky Sports' The Overlap podcast.

"I've given him my thoughts. I've said: You need to leave the football club.

"I went to Carrington to take my kids to game day and Marcus was out on the training pitch with the fitness coach, right over towards where the parents were walking past for the kids' games.

"I remember looking at him (and) thinking: How embarrassing is it that the parents are walking past?"

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Despite that hard-line stance, Rashford's performance against PSG saw Rooney switch track, and call for him to return to Manchester - via his punditry role with Amazon Prime Sport.

"The big thing for Villa now is to go and finish in the Champions League places. You see Asensio, Rashford and others - for Villa to keep those players, they need to be in the Champions League," he said at full-time.

"And I hope they don't! I hope Rashford goes back to Man United and performs like he did against PSG. That's what we all want to see as United fans."

Rooney's comments hint at his view of Rashford still having the potential to perform at the highest level but United's own chances of playing in the UCL next season hinge on them winning the Europa League next month.

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Feargal Brennan

Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News. He has been working with TSN since the start of 2022 after stints with Reach, Amazon UK and Squawka in a nomadic career in the football media pyramid. Always with a keen eye on Arteta's 'Reds' and Kenny's Ireland 'Greens' and a 100% five-a-side penalty record.