New number five! Manchester United confirm £16m Marcos Rojo signing

Manchester United have announced the signing of Argentina international defender Marcos Rojo from Sporting Lisbon for £16m.

Rojo, who had an impressive run at this summer’s World Cup, has signed a five- year contract at Old Trafford.

The confirmation brings to an end over-a- week-long negotiations, which has had Portuguese winger Luis Nani move the opposite direction on a season-long loan.

“It is such an honour to say that I now play for Manchester United,” the 24-year- old said. “The Premier League is the most
exciting league in the world and to have the chance to play in it for the world’s biggest club is a dream for me.”

Having started his career at his home town team of Estudiantes de la Plata, he moved on to join Sporting from Spartak Moscow in July 2012.

Rojo has 28 Argentina caps and played in six games as the South Americans reached the final of the 2014 World Cup, but lost to Germany. His match-winning goal
helped ‘La Albiceleste’ edge Nigeria in the last of their group stage matches in Brazil.

Louis van Gaal said: “Marcos is a very gifted defender. He has played at the highest level in world football and can play either as a central defender or left-
back."