Marcus Rashford made his Aston Villa debut in their **2-1 FA Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur**, coming off the bench in the second half. The Manchester United loanee, who made a deadline-day switch to Villa Park, received a warm reception from the home crowd as he played his first minutes under Unai Emery.
The 26-year-old forward moved to Villa in search of regular game time after falling down the pecking order at United under new manager Ruben Amorim. Despite being one of United’s key players in recent years, Rashford struggled for form this season, leading to speculation about his long-term future. His move to Villa, initially on a loan deal with an option to buy, gives him a fresh start as the club fights for a Champions League place in the Premier League. Against Spurs, Rashford was named on the bench, watching on as Jacob Ramsey gave Villa the perfect start, scoring inside the first minute. The home side controlled much of the game, doubling their lead in the second half through Morgan Rogers, just as Rashford was getting ready to come on.
Rashford was introduced shortly after the second goal, replacing Leon Bailey, and helped Villa manage the game’s closing stages. Although Tottenham pulled a goal back late on, Villa held firm to secure a place in the next round. After the match, Rashford took to Instagram, sharing pictures from his debut along with a short message: “Thank you for the warm welcome. Great team performance.” His post quickly gained attention, particularly from his Manchester United teammates, many of whom showed their support by liking the post. Among them were Bruno Fernandes, Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot, Andre Onana, Matthijs de Ligt**, and new signing Leny Yoro.
One of the most notable reactions came from Jadon Sancho, who left a cryptic comment: “Freedom.” The former United winger, currently on loan at Borussia Dortmund, has had his own issues at Old Trafford, having been frozen out by Erik ten Hag before his January move back to Germany. His comment sparked speculation about whether he was referencing his own struggles or hinting at Rashford’s situation at United. Rashford’s move away from Old Trafford has raised questions about his future, with reports suggesting that Villa could look to make the deal permanent in the summer. Despite his struggles this season, Rashford remains a highly talented forward, and Villa will hope he can rediscover his best form as they push for a top-four finish.
With his debut now behind him, Rashford will look to build momentum when **Villa host Ipswich Town** in their next Premier League fixture. The game offers him a chance to impress further and stake his claim for a regular starting role under Emery. Whether he remains at Villa beyond this season remains uncertain, but for now, he has the full backing of his teammates, both at his new club and back at Manchester United.