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

Barcelona sporting director Deco has lifted the lid on the summer tug-of-war for Marcus Rashford, confirming that Aston Villa pulled out every stop to retain the England forward after his explosive half-season loan in the Midlands—only to be rebuffed by the player’s single-minded desire to move to Catalonia.

Speaking exclusively to Spanish daily Sport, Deco detailed how Villa’s hierarchy “would have kept him if they could” after Rashford reignited his career with four goals and six assists in 17 appearances under Unai Emery. The 28-year-old’s pace and width transformed Villa’s attack, but negotiations hit an insurmountable wall once Rashford made it clear his heart was set on the Blaugrana.

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

That steadfast preference enabled Barcelona to secure a season-long loan that includes an option to buy, with Rashford accepting a pay cut to facilitate the switch. Deco hailed the forward’s commitment: “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.”

The numbers back up Deco’s enthusiasm. Since arriving in Spain, Rashford has been directly involved in 23 goals in 34 matches—10 goals and 13 assists—rekindling the form that once made him a household name at Old Trafford. By contrast, his departure leaves Villa scrambling to replace a proven Premier League match-winner who had already absorbed Emery’s tactical blueprint.

For a club striving to entrench itself among England’s elite, the failure to convert a successful loan into a permanent transfer represents a significant setback. Villa’s recruitment team identified Rashford as the missing piece in their attacking puzzle, helped him rediscover his confidence, and still watched him slip away to a European heavyweight.

If Barcelona trigger the purchase clause, Rashford’s legacy in Birmingham will be reduced to a tantalizing glimpse of what might have been—a footnote that will haunt Villa supporters every time the forward lights up La Liga.

Deco, meanwhile, remains unequivocal about the outcome: “He only wanted to come to Barca.” In the end, that desire was enough to end Villa’s dream and propel Barcelona one step closer to a long-term coup.