Ruben Amorim sent a brutal message to Marcus Rashford before his move from Manchester United to Aston Villa is confirmed, according to reports.
Rashford is closing in on a loan move to the Villans, with the deal containing an option to buy, after his near two-month exile from United's playing XI.
The 27-year-old was dropped from the matchday squad by Amorim ahead of the Manchester derby on December 12 and, barring an appearance on the bench in the 2-0 defeat to Newcastle later that month, has not been involved in a United squad since.
Rashford's future has been one of the main stories of the transfer window, with Barcelona, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund all linked with moves to sign him.
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But just as it appeared more likely than not that the England international would remain at Old Trafford past the January transfer window, a surprise fellow Premier League club made a late swoop.
Villa launched a move for Rashford at the personal request of manager Unai Emery, who has been desperate to find a replacement for the Saudi Pro League-bound striker Jhon Duran.
Villa's need for reinforcements grew greater on Saturday when Ollie Watkins was substituted at half-time due to injury in their 2-0 defeat at Wolves.
According to talkSPORT, the Midlands club are proposing to pay 75 per cent of Rashford's £350,000-a-week salary which, if true, would make him their highest earner.
And it is claimed that Amorim sent a message to Rashford before the deal is completed, telling him that he was planning not to pick him again this season if he had stayed at Old Trafford.
Such a decision would hardly come as a surprise to fans given Rashford's lack of involvement in recent months - and Amorim's public comments over the forward - but that stance may have changed had United suffered an injury crisis.
As it is, Rashford will now re-launch his career at a current Champions League club, with the change of scenery perhaps set to do the forward a world of good after spending his whole career at Old Trafford.
An option to buy in the summer, believed to be worth £40 million, means that may well have already played his last game for his boyhood club.
What are your thoughts on Marcus Rashford's impending move to Aston Villa? Let us know in the comments section below.
Topics: Ruben Amorim, Manchester United, Marcus Rashford, Aston Villa
Ryan Smart