Deco Reveals Truth Behind Aston Villa Pursuit Of Premier League Star: Did The Lions Suffer A Setback? | OneFootball

Barcelona Sporting Director Deco has officially confirmed that Aston Villa tried their best to keep Marcus Rashford. This followed his loan spell at Villa Park last season. Speaking to the Spanish outlet Sport in an exclusive interview, Deco broke down the transfer drama from the summer window.

Deco Confirms Aston Villa Failed in Attempt to Retain Marcus Rashford

The England international joined Unai Emery’s squad for the second half of the last campaign. He turned into a star player there almost overnight. Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim felt the forward’s style just didn’t click with his plans at Old Trafford.

So, Villa’s management went all-in to try and sign Rashford for good. But the player had his heart set on joining the La Liga leaders. That choice ended Aston Villa’s hopes. Instead, it paved the way for Barcelona to secure a season-long loan that includes an option to buy.

“Yes, definitely. I think it wasn’t easy to come here. He’s a player who has played at a very high level, with enormous demands at a club like Manchester United,” he said.

“Then he spent six months at Aston Villa, where he did a very good job. In fact, Aston Villa, if they could have, would have kept him. I know this because I’ve spoken to people there. But he only wanted to come to Barca, and that’s a very positive thing.

“We were able to secure a loan. The fact that he took a pay cut to make it happen is a clear demonstration that he really wanted to come, and we’re very happy about that. He’s a player who contributes a lot to the team.” 

Was it a setback for the Lions?

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 22: Marcus Rashford of Aston Villa looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Aston Villa FC at Etihad Stadium on April 22, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Losing a player of Rashford’s talent is a massive blow for Unai Emery. You can really see the impact the 28-year-old had during his short stay in the Midlands. He put up a solid four goals and six assists in only 17 matches. Those numbers show he picked up Emery’s system fast.

He gave the team the exact width and speed they were looking for. Since Aston Villa could not sign him permanently, they now have a huge hole in their front line. For a club trying to prove they belong among England’s elite, missing out on an established international who already knew the system is a real step backwards. It is a tough pill to swallow, even if the move came down to what the player wanted.

The massive difference between his exit from Manchester and his current spark in Spain brings up real questions. Mainly, it makes you wonder how Amorim judged his squad. Rashford has already racked up a staggering 23 goal involvements in 34 games for Barcelona. With 10 goals and 13 assists, he has clearly found his best form again.

Deco mentioned that the forward even took a pay cut just to make the move happen. That shows how badly Rashford wanted to leave the stagnation he felt in Manchester. Aston Villa ended up as the unlucky ones here.

They spotted the talent and got his confidence back, only for Barcelona to come in and grab the prize. If the Spanish giants trigger that buy option, Villa fans will always look at Rashford as a giant “what if.” In the end, it was all about the player’s focus on wearing the famous Blaugrana shirt.