Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho offered a brief comment on Marcus Rashford’s successful debut after the forward’s mid-season loan move to Aston Villa.

Former United defender Rio Ferdinand has noted that players seem to perform better away from Old Trafford, suggesting that the pressure lifts when they leave. Rashford recently joined Aston Villa on loan and expressed gratitude for the “warm welcome” he received after his debut, which saw Villa secure a 2-1 FA Cup fourth-round victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

Sancho, currently on loan at Chelsea, simply commented “Freedom” on Rashford’s Instagram post. Many former United players, including Anthony Elanga, Scott McTominay, and even Antony, have thrived after moving away from the club. Ferdinand has observed a pattern in how these players have regained their form.

“Look at Antony; he’s had a man-of-the-match performance with a goal and an assist in two games,” Ferdinand said on his Rio Presents podcast, referring to Antony’s loan at Real Betis. “McTominay is playing like a prime Jude Bellingham right now, and Elanga is excelling as a winger.”

Ferdinand believes that the pressure associated with playing at Old Trafford has hindered players, and leaving has allowed them to rediscover their potential. “These players are looking like new, dynamic footballers because the cloud and pressure have lifted, enabling them to flourish.”

Rashford made his Villa debut from the bench, joining fellow new signing Marco Asensio on the pitch. January signings Andres Garcia and Donyell Malen started the match, with Jacob Ramsey and Morgan Rogers contributing to the 2-1 victory.

“Every player and the supporters here really created a great atmosphere today,” manager Unai Emery said after the win. “We started strong, scoring in the first minute, and we created plenty of chances while limiting theirs.

“We have to continue building our team and improving our structure as soon as possible, following the strong performance we showed today.”

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