Why Manchester United should offload Marcos Rojo on a permanent basis

On-loan Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo has claimed that he does not want to return to Old Trafford when his loan deal expires at the end of the season (h/t The Sun)

Marcos Rojo, who has been with Manchester United since 2014, was allowed to join boyhood club Estudiantes on loan in the January transfer window. Injury issues meant that the Argentine could make just one appearance for the club before the season was suspended due to coronavirus.

Now, with his loan deal set to expire at the end of the campaign, Rojo has expressed his desire to not return to Manchester United and continue at Estudiantes for an extended period (h/t The Sun).

Manchester United have had a mixed bag of a season in 2019/20. Having started off on the wrong foot, the club have recovered considerably and find themselves in 5th place in the Premier League table, while still being in the hunt for the FA Cup and the UEFA Europa League as well.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, in his first full season as Manchester United manager, has made some solid purchases in the transfer window, having brought in the likes of Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Dan James and Bruno Fernandes.

United’s major problem this season has been in the final third of the pitch, which has been addressed to a great extent by the arrival of Fernandes. Defensively, they have been quite resolute for the majority of the campaign. The Red Devils have shipped in just 30 goals in 29 Premier League games. Only Liverpool, Sheffield United and Leicester City have conceded fewer goals than that so far.

The signing of Harry Maguire has been a huge boost, while Victor Lindelof has also upped his game playing alongside the new club captain. Add to it, Eric Bailly’s return from injury has also been a major positive for Solskjaer & co.

With three frontline centre-backs competing for the two spots, along with Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones also waiting in the wings, there does not seem to be any place for Marcos Rojo in the squad when he returns from his loan spell at Estudiantes.

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The Argentine had featured just nine times in 2019/20 prior to leaving the club on loan, and given the options at Solskjaer’s disposal, Rojo should continue to be way down the pecking order, meaning his game time is unlikely to see any improvement.

So it would be better for the club and the player himself to end the partnership on a permanent basis in the summer.

Verdict

Rojo has been unable to establish himself in the first-team at Manchester United for quite a few seasons now. And with the quality of options at Solskjaer’s disposal and the depth in the squad, it would be a wise move for the club to offload the Argentine defender on a permanent basis once he returns from his loan spell at Estudiantes.