Manchester United Signs Argentinian Defender Marcos Rojo For RM50.6 Million

Manchester United is delighted to announce it has reached an agreement with Sporting Lisbon to sign defender Marcos Rojo, subject to a medical and agreeing personal terms.

Manchester United have reached an agreement to sign Argentina defender Marcos Rojo from Sporting Lisbon. United said the deal, which Sporting report is worth £16m, is subject to a medical, and personal terms being agreed.

bbc.com

Manchester United have confirmed a deal has been agreed with Sporting Lisbon for Marcos Rojo, while Nani will join the Portuguese club on a season-long loan.

espn.co.uk

As reported by Mirror Sport today, out of favour United winger Nani will head the other way to former club Sporting on a season-long loan as part of the deal.

Sporting have also confirmed Nani, 27, is returning on loan, seven years after the winger joined United from Lisbon.

bbc.com

Left-sided defender Rojo, 24, played in all six games as Argentina reached the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil.

bbc.com

Rojo, who played at left-back for Argentina during their progress to the World Cup final in Brazil, has been bought to slot straight into Van Gaal’s system of playing three at the back.

Last week he refused to train with Sporting because of his frustration at not being allowed what he described on Argentine radio as a "dream" move to United, although he subsequently apologised.

bbc.com

However, agreeing a deal for Rojo has proved difficult for the Premier League club, with ownership issues having complicated a move for their target.

espn.co.uk

United's move for Rojo had been complicated by a row between Sporting and his a third-party ownership group, while the player upset his employers by initially refusing to train in a bid to push through the deal, although he later apologised and returned to work.

independent.ie

United have been searching for a central defender following the summer departures of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, with Rojo's versatility making him a good fit for United manager Louis van Gaal's preferred 3-5-2 system.

bbc.com

United have been short of defenders following the summer departures of Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra and manager Louis van Gaal's decision to switch to a formation that requires three centre-backs.

espn.co.uk

Despite spending more than champions Manchester City this summer and more than title favourites Chelsea this year, there is a perception United have not strengthened enough, even with the capture of Rojo. Only Exeter, who were operating under a transfer embargo until last Friday, had signed fewer players in the top four divisions of English football, until United confirmed the signing of Rojo.

United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is under increased pressure to bring in more players ahead of the August 31 transfer deadline after Saturday’s opening day 2-1 home defeat to Swansea.

The only members of Van Gaal's squad who can be described as players of undoubted Manchester United class are David De Gea, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie. The club has spent the last couple of months courting countless big names to add to the early, expensive purchases of Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw - including Arturo Vidal, Juan Cuadrado, Mats Hummels and Kevin Strootman - but with just a fortnight until the window shuts, none has arrived.

goal.com

If the 2012-13 Premier League champions want to finish in the top four and return to where they belong in the Champions League then they simply must sign at least two or three top players in the next couple of weeks.

goal.com