According to a recent report by Gazzetta dello Sport (translated by The Daily Star), AS Roma have identified Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo as a summer target if they fail to sign Chris Smalling permanently when his loan deal runs out later this summer. The same source has also revealed that Rojo was offered to the Serie A giants during the January transfer window, but the Argentine centre-back ended up making a switch to Estudiantes. It is believed that Roma boss Paulo Fonseca is now ready to orchestrate a move to bring the South American defender to Italy if he misses out on Smalling in the off-season (Gazzetta dello Sport).
Rojo’s Career In England Has Come To A StandStill
The 29-year-old has endured another frustrating season at the Theatre of Dreams after failing to establish himself as a regular starter in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s starting XI. He has made nine appearances for the Red Devils this term, playing a total of 648 minutes in the process.
Since joining from Sporting CP in the summer of 2014, Rojo has gone on to feature in 122 matches for Man United, scoring two goals while grabbing four assists on all fronts. He has also acquired a wealth of international experience, having represented the Argentine national side in 61 matches while netting three goals for his nation in the process.
Rojo is in dire need of securing regular first-team starts as soon as possible so that he can reignite his career in European football. Maybe, a summer switch to Italy could be an ideal step for him at this stage of his playing life. The Argentine’s departure would also free up space for Solskjaer to retain Smalling’s services or recruit a quality defender when the transfer window reopens later this year.
What Does The Argentine International Offer On The Pitch?
On his day, Rojo can still be a solid defender inside his own half as he is quite aggressive with his tackling that enables him to win possession back for his side. He can jump higher than most other players around him when challenging for the 50-50 aerial duels. However, the Argentine centre-back is far from consistent with his performances on the field, which makes him an unreliable presence at the back. If his time at Old Trafford is anything to go by, Rojo is an injury-prone player, who has struggled to live up to his potential at Manchester.
Roma Eyeing A Summer Move For Rojo: Good Move For All Parties?
Hence, it makes a lot of sense for the Red Devils to cut him loose at the end of this campaign. Roma will be taking a huge gamble if they end up landing Rojo as he is way past his prime. At the same time, he will be a cheap option and will only improve the overall depth of Fonseca’s squad. Smalling’s successful loan spell proves that the Italian club are quite intelligent in the way they operate in the transfer market.
Rojo’s addition could be another smart piece of business for them as he still has a few good years left in his locker. Man United will be better off retaining Smalling’s services for the long-run when he returns from his loan spell as the Englishman has taken great strides towards improving his overall game this season. All in all, Rojo joining AS Roma and Smalling coming back to his parent club, seems like a good deal for everyone involved.
