Because of Rashford, Aston Villa made a controversial decision

Aston Villa are considering a controversial decision: selling their women's football team to raise enough money to sign Marcus Rashford.

Rashford scored four goals in all competitions for Aston Villa in the second half of the 2024/25 season.

According to Football Insider , the Villa Park management are considering liquidating the women's team to raise funds to retain Rashford after an impressive season on loan. This is seen as a move to get ahead of some heavyweights, including Barcelona - the team that is keeping an eye on the English striker.

Rashford, 27, was once touted as the future of Manchester United. However, injuries, inconsistent form and a change in management have seen him fall out of the long-term plans of both Erik ten Hag and his successor Ruben Amorim.

At Aston Villa, Rashford has rediscovered his scoring instincts and influence - something that has made manager Unai Emery determined to keep him. However, Man United spent £100m to keep him and his high wages are a major financial obstacle for any team wanting to own this star long term.

Selling the women’s team – especially after the club lost star Alisha Lehmann to Juventus – is seen as the most viable solution to keep Aston Villa from breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules. However, this option is sure to cause controversy, as the club would trade away part of its women’s football development structure to prioritise the men’s team.

This action is reminiscent of the case of Chelsea, who once “sold” their women’s football division to a company within the same ownership group to legalize their finances, although in reality, the management rights did not change.

Rashford’s future is in doubt, but one thing is clear: Aston Villa are willing to do whatever it takes to keep a player who is seen as a key piece in Unai Emery’s plans. And if that comes at the cost of the women’s team, the club will face a backlash from the English football public.

Source: https://znews.vn/vi-rashford-aston-villa-ra-quyet-dinh-gay-tranh-cai-post1561413.html