After making his debut for Aston Villa on Sunday, Jadon Sancho sent Marcus Rashford a one-word message that upset many Manchester United fans.

Rashford, who had been struggling at Old Trafford after losing the trust of manager Ruben Amorim, secured a loan move to Aston Villa last month until the end of the season.

Sancho, another former Manchester United player, showed his support for Rashford on social media after Rashford shared several photos on Instagram, expressing joy at seeing his old teammate start anew away from Old Trafford.

“Freedom,” the Chelsea loanee commented, adding a blessing and uplifted hands emoji.

Under previous United coach Erik ten Hag, Sancho faced similar challenges at the club. Like Rashford, he is still officially under contract with Manchester United.

After failing to apologize to Ten Hag for a previous outburst regarding his exclusion from a matchday squad, Sancho was sidelined. Following a lengthy fallout with the Dutch manager, who had openly criticized Sancho’s training habits, he left Old Trafford, initially on loan to Borussia Dortmund and later to Chelsea.

Many United fans reacted negatively to Sancho’s comment, responding beneath Rashford’s post. One remarked sarcastically, “Bad attitude = freedom,” while another quipped, “What the flop you guys are.” Another suggested they should form a “lazy bros FC,” and one more added, “Freedom from Hardwork… Sancho, same with you.”

Both Rashford and Sancho have experienced similar trajectories, going from being key players to being marginalized. Rashford, a product of the academy, had once become a standout star for Manchester United, while Sancho was brought in for a hefty £73 million in 2021.

Rashford had a more successful stint at the club, scoring an impressive 29 goals in the 2022-2023 season and totaling 138 goals for the team. However, his dip in form last season led to his exclusion from Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the upcoming European Championships.

After a fallout with Amorim, Rashford announced in January that he wanted to leave his boyhood club. He faced criticism from fans and commentators for his attitude both on and off the pitch before his exit.

Amorim had openly questioned Rashford’s commitment and lifestyle, warning him that he needed to make changes to be part of the team’s future plans. Despite having last played 59 days prior to his Aston Villa debut, Unai Emery expressed confidence in Rashford’s abilities but acknowledged the challenge of regaining his form.

Emery stated, “I am really pleased with him… I want the best football from him.” He emphasized Rashford’s potential and his desire to help him improve.

Rashford’s loan at Villa will last until the end of the season, with the possibility of a permanent move afterward. In his debut match against Spurs, he was impressive, touching the ball 22 times and completing 13 passes with a 93% accuracy rate.

After the game, he shared a heartfelt message with his new fans on Instagram: “Thank you for the warm welcome. Excellent teamwork.” With their victory, Aston Villa advanced to the FA Cup final 16 for the first time since 2015, while Liverpool faced an upset loss to Plymouth. The fifth-round draw will take place on Monday night.