Peter Odemwingie (left) and Marcos Rojo (right) are trying to get the ball at the Brazil World Cup, June 26, 2014. AP/Michael Sohn
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Marcos Rojo will become a Manchester United player and sign a five-year contract, subject to a medical, after the Argentina defender’s complicated third-party contractual position was finally untangled on Tuesday night.
Sporting Lisbon confirmed via their official Twitter account that the 24-year-old will move to Old Trafford, with the Portugal winger Nani moving back to his former club on a season-long loan: “#mufc has reached agreement with Sporting Lisbon to sign defender Marcos Rojo, subject to a medical and personal terms. A further announcement will be made when the process is complete.”
Rojo’s expected arrival means United have finally signed another player after Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera were bought in June for a combined £55m. The Argentinian is believed to have cost around £16m.
United faced particularly complicated negotiations due to him having more than one third-party entity with part ownership that had to be satisfied before the deal could be completed.
With club sources characterising the deal as among the most intricate of United’s recent transfers – the Doyen Sports Investment player fund are understood to have had a significant financial interest in Rojo – there is relief at Old Trafford he will become the first player bought who was identified solely by Louis van Gaal since he became manager in the close season.
