Though the transfer window slammed shut before Manchester United could procure the defensive star they apparently so desired, business isn’t yet completed for the Red Devils with the deadline still to come into fruition for leagues across the continent. Red Devils manager José Mourinho and the United hierarchy are still attempting to use this as an opportunity for off-loading certain players deemed surplus to requirements.
The Sportsman has already commented on the likelihood of the Italian right-back Matteo Darmian’s likely move away from Manchester United, but it is yet another defender who grabs the headlines today, with Turkish publication Fanatik reporting that it is Marcos Rojo who is on the verge of leaving the club.
The 28 year-old Argentine will complete a move to the Süper Lig giants Fenerbahçe by the end of the month.
Rojo was granted a move to Old Trafford during Louis Van Gaal’s tenure following a successful audition with the Argentina national team that got to the final of the World Cup in 2014.
Moving for a fee believed to be around £16million from Primeira Liga side Sporting CP, injury and questionable performances have now left the versatile defender on the verge of leaving United.
Robust, passionate, and tough-tackling, Rojo has made over 100 appearances for the club in the four years he’s been in the North-West, and has received a booking in just under a quarter of those fixtures. His culpability is too often at question and frequent injuries have pushed him further down the pecking order, having made only nine league appearances in 17/18 (and collecting six yellow cards in the process).
Though the position he vies for was probably the most heavily linked for United to make an acquisition, manager Jose Mourinho already had- and still has- a wealth of options at centre-back; their perceived varying quality bringing frequent subjective fan vilification.
Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Eric Bailly, and Victor Lindelöf all remain in contention for a place in a mach-day starting XI, with Axel Tuanzebe and Timothy Fosu-Mensah being allowed to leave on loan.
Fantanik reports that Fenerbahçe Director Of Football, Damien Comolli, formerly on the board at Liverpool, is a long-time admirer of the Argentine and is determined to add him to the Yellow Canaries burgeoning ranks.
The 19-time Turkish league champions have already done business with other Premier League clubs this summer, with Andrew Ayew and Islam Slimani joining on loan from Swansea and Leicester City, respectively.
Fellow Premier League club Everton were also reportedly interested in bringing Rojo to Goodison Park, during a time when it seemed as if the Toffees were linked with every viable centre-back possibility under the Sun.
With Manchester United apparently locked in negotiations, it seems Rojo will be making his way to helping Fenerbahçe reclaiming the title from 2017/18 champions Galatasary.
