Is Marcos Rojo the right defender for Manchester United?

Marcos Rojo is Manchester United’s third major signing this summer

In the midst of the seemingly never-ending clatter regarding the raft of players pencilled in to join the second Manchester United revolution in as many years, pen was put to paper to finalise the club’s third foray into the transfer market, this time a defender brought in to plug the gaping hole left by the departures of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.

Many interesting names had been thrown into the mix as Louis Van Gaal planned his Manchester United reboot; the thought of Mats Hummels and Thomas Vermaelen carrying a United shirt satiating the minds of United fans numbed following the debacle of 2013-14.

The winning candidate, however, was neither of the two, the Dutchman instead picking a defender who many experts thought was a starter for his country at this summer’s World Cup more for a lack of better choice than for headline performances.

Unlikely to have been on top of the fans’ shopping lists when the transfer window opened, Marcos Rojo won himself a move to Old Trafford for a steep £16 million fee, describing the move as a dream come true while inciting an interesting debate over the club’s continued scouting policy.

Was Rojo the right choice?

The criticism, when laid bare, was quite easy to see. As elucidated by former United defender Gary Neville, the Red Devils could have had Gareth Bale, Toni Kroos, Cesc Fabregas and Felipe Luis among their ranks for the money spent over the last 12 months. Instead, in their roster were Marouane Fellaini, Wilfried Zaha, Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera and Juan Mata, all except the latter unproven at the top level.

Desperately short of star names and dependable performers, United have, for a while now, lacked their usual panache; struggling for a foothold in games that they are expected to hold by the scruff of the neck. Nevertheless, staunch supporters of the ‘Louis van Gaal is a tactical genius’ club insist that the Dutchman is doing exactly as he has done his whole managerial career; look to sign the right players for the club, not just the most famous ones.

At first glance and given the information at hand, the acquisition of 24-year old seems a shrewd decision.

Likely to play on the left side of a back three for Manchester United, Rojo’s versatility in both centre-back and full-back positions should, in theory, help cover for the marauding Luke Shaw whenever required, while providing a more-than-capable replacement as a wing-back when called upon.

Marcos Rojo in action for Argentina against Netherlands in the 2014 World Cup semi-final

The fact that he was the only player in La Albiceleste’s successful World Cup campaign to crack the Castrol Index Top 11 adds more credence to Van Gaal’s apparent faith in his abilities, while his pace and strength indicates enough potential to cope with the physicality required to survive in England’s top division.

“Rojo won the hearts of the Argentines at the World Cup. He was very good both attacking and defending. [Alejandro] Sabella put his trust in him and he responded really well. He had an excellent World Cup and was the best left-back among the four semi-finalists.”

- Diego Simeone

Disciplinary issues a cause for concern?

However, rushing into a judgement about Rojo’s ability seems a little hasty, given the struggles that the defender has faced throughout his long and tumultuous journey from Estudiantes to Manchester United.

First at Spartak Moscow and then in the early stages of his career at Sporting, Rojo was continually embroiled in disciplinary issues, the former club letting go of the player just one season into his stint in Russia. The 2012-13 season also saw him left wanting in terms of positioning on numerous occasions, causing a flutter in the Portuguese media about the player possibly being shipped out for the second time in as many years.

While his defensive sensibilities have grown over the past season, he continues to show odd moments of recklessness and belligerence amidst impressive performances, exemplified by the 27 yellow cards and 5 reds that the Argentine has accumulated in just two seasons at the Estádio José Alvalade.

Success for Rojo in Sporting’s impressive second-place finish last season coupled with solid performances at the World Cup indicate that Louis van Gaal’s faith in a man hardly known only three months back is not falsely placed. A coach with a greater intent to collect horses for courses, football fans would know better than to judge the Dutchman’s dealings in the transfer market by their marketability.

Rushing into a judgement about United’s fortunes this coming term, having taken a sample size as small as the opening weekend’s fixtures, would indeed be daft. But while the likes of Arturo Vidal and Andel di Maria are top priorities for the club’s supporters, their season could rest greatly on the shoulders of their newest foreign import, as he looks to make the grade at Old Trafford.