- Birthdate: 20 Mar 1990
- Birthplace: La Plate, Argentina
- Position: Defender
- Joined United: 20 Aug 2014
- Joined From: Sporting Lisbon
- International: Argentina
- United Debut: 14 Sept 2014 v QPR (H)
- Appearances: 37
Marcos Rojo is an aggressive, accomplished Argentinian defender with a tough-tackling style that is proving popular among fans at Old Trafford.
The South American has as much fondness for physical challenges as he does for tattoos, with ‘Pride’ and ‘Glory’ inked on his thighs to send out a warning to any strikers feeling particularly brave.
Unfortunately, his debut season at Manchester United was littered with injuries - including a dislocated shoulder in the Manchester derby - and he could only register 26 appearances in all competitions, although he did score once in a 3-0 win over Cambridge United in the FA Cup.
Rojo came to Louis van Gaal's attention when he starred at the 2014 World Cup, where he played in six of his country's seven games and only missed the quarter-final win over Belgium due to suspension. The defender also scored his first-ever international goal during Argentina's 3-2 group-stage win over Nigeria and respected analysts Castrol Index even selected him in their official Team of the Tournament with an average rating of 9.5 out of 10.
Argentina head coach Alessandro Sabella had previously worked with Rojo during their time together at Estudiantes, winning the Copa Libertadores in 2009 and the Torneo Apertura the following year. A transfer to Europe and Spartak Moscow followed, although the youngster struggled to settle in Russia with Nemanja Vidic’s former club. Nonetheless, senior international recognition with Argentina was still forthcoming and he competed at the Copa America as he proved his value at the highest level.
A switch to Sporting was sealed in the summer of 2012 for a fee of around £3.5million and, after adapting to life in the Portuguese league, he excelled throughout the 2013/14 campaign and impressed in a side that finished runners-up to Benfica.
Although regularly playing at left-back for Argentina, Rojo was often deployed in the middle of Sporting Lisbon’s defence and is suited to playing as part of a three-man backline - which has of course benefitted Louis van Gaal's 3-5-2 formation at United.
Rojo - whose surname translates from Spanish to ‘Red’ - became the fourth Argentinian to join United by following in the footsteps of former Estudiantes team-mate Juan Sebastian Veron, Gabriel Heinze and Carlos Tevez. A left-sided performer capable of operating in the middle or at full-back, he will link up with the team following the 2015 Copa America in Chile.
A switch to Sporting was sealed in the summer of 2012 for a fee of around £3.5million and, after adapting to life in the Portuguese league, he excelled throughout the 2013/14 campaign and impressed in a side that finished runners-up to Benfica.
Although regularly playing at left-back for Argentina, Rojo was often deployed in the middle of Sporting Lisbon’s defence and is suited to playing as part of a three-man backline - which has of course benefitted Louis van Gaal's 3-5-2 formation at United.
Rojo - whose surname translates from Spanish to ‘Red’ - became the fourth Argentinian to join United by following in the footsteps of former Estudiantes team-mate Juan Sebastian Veron, Gabriel Heinze and Carlos Tevez. A left-sided performer capable of operating in the middle or at full-back, he will link up with the team following the 2015 Copa America in Chile.
