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DECO CONFIRMS ASTON VILLA TRIED TO HIJACK MARCUS RASHFORD’S BARCELONA LOAN DEAL
Marcus Rashford chose Barcelona over a permanent move to Aston Villa! Read Deco's exclusive interview on the star’s pay cut.
Barcelona’s Sporting Director, Deco, has come right out and said it: Aston Villa pulled out all the stops to keep Marcus Rashford after his loan spell last season. He sat down with Sport, a Spanish outlet, and didn’t hold back about what really happened during the summer transfer window.
Rashford joined Unai Emery’s squad for the back half of last year, and, honestly, he lit things up. He just clicked right away. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s ex-boss, Ruben Amorim, never saw Rashford fitting into his plans at Old Trafford.
So, what did Villa do? They went all in. They really tried to make the deal permanent. But it didn’t matter. Rashford had already set his sights on Barcelona. Once he decided, Villa’s hopes were pretty much dead. Barcelona swooped in, worked out a season-long loan with an option to buy, and that was that.
Deco didn’t sugarcoat it. “It wasn’t easy to get him here. He’s a top player, used to big expectations at Manchester United,” he said. “He did great at Aston Villa. They wanted to keep him, I know, because I’ve talked to people there. But he only wanted Barca. That’s a big plus for us.”
He pointed out that Rashford even agreed to lower his salary just to make the move happen. “That tells you everything about his motivation,” Deco added. “We’re thrilled. He brings so much to our team.”
So how did Villa take it? Honestly, losing a player like Rashford stings badly. Unai Emery had a game-changer on his hands, and you could see it. Four goals and six assists in just 17 games. He picked up the system fast and gave Villa the pace and width they needed, and the team looked sharper for it. But now, with Rashford gone, Villa suddenly have a huge gap up front. For a club trying to prove they belong with England’s best, missing out on a player like this one who already fits right in feels like a real setback. And sure, the decision was Rashford’s, but that doesn’t make it any easier.
There’s a twist, too: Rashford looks like a different player in Spain. The contrast between his final days at Manchester United and his impact at Barcelona is pretty striking. He’s already chalked up 10 goals and 13 assists in 34 matches. It’s clear he’s thriving again.
Deco made a point of saying Rashford wanted out of Manchester so badly that he took a pay cut. Villa spotted his potential and helped him get his confidence back, only for Barcelona to snatch him away. If Barca end up making the move permanent, Villa fans are always going to wonder what could have been. In the end, it all came down to Rashford’s dream of wearing that famous Barcelona shirt.
DIEGO SIMEONE TAUNTS YAMAL: ATLETICO BOSS FLASHES THREE FINGERS DURING 4-0 BARCA ROUT
Diego Simeone taunts Lamine Yamal as Atletico Madrid thrash Barcelona 4-0. Discover the tactical details behind the Copa del Rey rout.
Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal found himself on the wrong end of Diego Simeone’s taunting during a Copa del Rey nightmare against Atletico Madrid. Hansi Flick’s team, sitting at the top of La Liga, went into halftime already four goals behind in the first leg, and Simeone made sure Yamal was well aware of the score.
Right from the start, Atletico came out flying. Eric Garcia accidentally put the ball into his own net within seven minutes. Antoine Griezmann, who used to play for Barcelona, made it 2-0 just a few minutes later.
Then, Ademola Lookman, who just joined Atletico in January, made it three just after the half-hour mark. Simeone, never one to hide his emotions, dashed down the touchline to celebrate. As he headed back to his spot, Yamal happened to walk by, and Simeone flashed three fingers at him, grinning from ear to ear.
Things only got worse for Barcelona before the break. Julian Alvarez, who’s been in the headlines lately with transfer rumours, scored a fourth in stoppage time. With that kind of lead, Atletico has one foot in the next round heading into the return leg at Camp Nou on March 4.
So, how do you stop a kid like Yamal? Simeone seems to think a little psychological warfare goes a long way. Girona’s coach, Michel, agrees. Ahead of their own clash with Barcelona, Michel talked about how much of a threat Yamal is, especially on the right side. According to him, Yamal isn’t just a flashy dribbler. He’s got vision and can pick out a pass most teenagers wouldn’t even see. Give him a sliver of space; he’ll find a teammate. Get too close, and he’ll dance right past you.
Michel didn’t want to reveal too much, but he made it pretty clear: sometimes you just have to make life uncomfortable for Yamal. Get under his skin. Make him work for every inch.
Against Atletico, that strategy worked. Barcelona did manage to get the ball in the net once when Pau Cabarsi scrambled it over the line, but after a painfully long eight-minute VAR check, the goal was chalked off thanks to a glitch in the offside technology. It just wasn’t their night.
Simeone, buzzing after the win, told reporters, “Our fans needed a night like this. We know who we’re up against, and there’s still a long way to go before the next game. But tonight, this was something special for our people. They deserved it.”
METROPOLITANO MASSACRE: ATLETICO MADRID THRASH BARCELONA 4-0 IN A WILD COPA SEMI-FINAL
Atletico Madrid thrash Barcelona 4-0! Griezmann, Lookman, and Alvarez star in a dominant Copa del Rey semi-final first-leg win.
After an Eric Garcia own goal sent Diego Simeone's side ahead early on, Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez struck to give Atletico a landslide lead by half-time.
Barca defender Garcia was sent off in the final stages, with Atletico maintaining their significant advantage over the record 32-time winners, which they will take into the second leg at Camp Nou on March 3.
Both sides missed good chances in the second half, with Barca's Pau Cubarsi having a goal disallowed before Garcia was sent off in the final stages.
Atletico were able to preserve their significant advantage on the record as 32-time winners, which they will take into the second leg at Camp Nou on March 3.
Well off the pace in La Liga and not showing the quality of a side likely to go deep in the Champions League, the Copa del Rey represents Atletico's best chance of silverware this season.
With that motivation in mind, the Rojiblancos conjured the best football of their season to completely dismantle the Spanish champions in the first half.
The hosts took the lead after seven minutes when Garcia's pass, on the uneven Metropolitano stadium pitch, bobbled towards Joan Garcia and then under the goalkeeper's foot.
The Barca stopper ran back towards his goal to try and save it, but the ball crossed the line first, with Lookman ramming it back into the net for good measure, although it was recorded as an Eric Garcia own goal.
Former Barca striker Griezmann slid home the second as Atletico breached the Catalans' high defensive line repeatedly, leaning on the pace of Giuliano Simeone and Lookman.
Fermin Lopez hit the crossbar for Barcelona, but it was one-way traffic, and Atletico nearly got a third when Alvarez's effort was cleared off the line by Jules Kounde.
Eventually, Nigeria international Lookman steered home the third at the end of a fine team move, with overjoyed Atletico coach Simeone racing down the touchline in celebration.
Alvarez drought ends
Having spent much of the season demanding his team take their chances more clinically, all of the Argentine's dreams came true at once.
Alvarez, who had failed to score in his last 11 matches, ended his drought for Atletico's fourth, ramming home from just inside the area.
Atletico goalkeeper Juan Musso saved well from Lopez to keep his clean sheet at the interval.
Barcelona thought they had pulled one back in the second half when Pau Cubarsi netted, but it was controversially disallowed after a long VAR review for offside.
With a few minutes remaining, the league leaders' night got even worse when Eric Garcia was sent off for a foul on Alex Baena as he ran through.
Ferran Torres's poor pass sold his teammate short, and he clumsily felled the Atletico playmaker.
Alexander Sorloth and Torres spurned further chances at each end as the game kept its frantic pace until the end.
On Wednesday, Real Sociedad beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 in the first leg of the other semi-final clash.
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