Why Manchester United must sell Marcos Rojo this summer

According to the Daily Mirror, Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has plans in place for a huge shake-up at Manchester United this summer, with five big-name stars set to be shown the door and four major signings brought in. One of the five players likely to be shown the door is Marcos Rojo.

Marcos Rojo, 29, seemingly not in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s long-term plans at Old Trafford, returned to Estudiantes on loan during the winter window. Before being shipped out on loan, he managed only eight league appearances since the start of the 2018/19 season.

The Argentinean international joined the Red Devils from Sporting Lisbon back in 2014. He has made over 120 appearances for United but endured hugely frustrating last few campaigns due to recurrent injury problems.

The 29-year-old has gradually seen his role at Old Trafford reduced as after making 41 appearances in the 2016/17 campaign, he managed just 18 in the following two seasons combined.

Manchester United signed Harry Maguire from Leicester City. Maguire has quickly adapted to life at Old Trafford and has been handed the captain’s armband following Ashley Young’s exit in January.

The England international has formed a strong partnership at the back with Victor Lindelof under Solskjaer, with the Red Devils conceding just 30 goals in 29 games.

Following Maguire’s addition, Solskjaer allowed Chris Smalling to join AS Roma on a season-long loan. The Norwegian tactician has also shown faith in Axel Tuanzebe and handed him game time before the defender got injured. A combination of Maguire’s arrival and Solskjaer trust in Tuanzebe at the back pushed Rojo further to the periphery and he left on loan two months back.

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Rojo did not feature for United since the 3-1 win over Brighton on 10th November, which seemingly suggested he wasn’t a part of Solskjaer’s plans going forward, despite the club handing the defender a new contract in March 2018 that lasts until 2021.

Verdict

The £80k-a-week Argentinean international will return to United at the end of this deal with Estudiantes, but as Maguire and Lindelof have formed a strong partnership in central defence and given the likes of Eric Bailly, Phil Jones and Tuanzebe are in reserves, Rojo is certainly surplus to requirements.

Thus, Solskjaer should not think twice before offloading the 29-year-old during the summer transfer window.