Manchester United have completed the signing of Argentina international defender Marcos Rojo from Sporting Lisbon with winger Nani heading in the opposite direction on a season-long loan.
Manchester United completed the signing of Sporting Lisbon defender Marcos Rojo
The Argentina international will cost United just under £16million and moves to Old Trafford on a five-year deal.
"Manchester United is delighted to announce the signing of defender Marcos Rojo from Sporting Lisbon for a fee of 20million euros, with Nani joining the Portuguese club on a season-long loan," said a club statement. "Marcos joins on a five-year contract."
Rojo is equally comfortable at centre-back as he is at left-back and played all 120 minutes of July's World Cup final as Argentina lost to Germany after extra-time in Rio de Janeiro.
Rojo is United's third signing of the summer and strengthens manager Louis van Gaal's defensive options.
Manchester United tweeted this picture of their new signing, alongside a welcome message
The 24-year-old began his career in his homeland with Estudiantes de la Plata and spent a single season with Spartak Moscow before moving to Sporting in 2012.
He also has 28 caps for his country and cannot wait to play his part in Louis van Gaal's new era at United.
"It is such an honour to say that I now play for Manchester United," he 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.
"I am young and am very keen to continue to learn the game, so playing for such an experienced technical coach as Louis van Gaal is a fantastic opportunity for me.
"I have joined United to work hard with my team-mates to win trophies and I know that the manager shares that ambition."
Rojo joins Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw as Van Gaal's third high-profile signing since taking over earlier in the summer and the Dutchman believes he will be a useful addition as the former Bayern Munich boss implements a new 3-5-2 formation at Old Trafford this term.
Louis van Gaal started with debutant Tyler Blackett as part of his three-man defence in last Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Swansea City.
By the end of the game, winger Ashley Young was being used in the left-back role following a switch of formations.
"Marcos is a very gifted defender," he said. "He has played at the highest level in world football and can play either as a central defender or left back.
"He has ability, physical strength and a willingness to learn that means he has a very bright future ahead of him.
"He had a very strong World Cup and has been playing in Europe for a couple of years now. He is a very good addition to the team."
United lost centre-backs Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic alongside left-back Patrice Evra this summer and Rojo will add to a defensive unit which was largely criticised following the defeat to Swansea at the weekend.
Rojo could make his debut in Sunday's game at Sunderland, with fellow summer signing Luke Shaw out for another three weeks because of a hamstring injury.
Sporting Lisbon will receive £8m immediately, with further instalments of £4m being paid on 1 December this year and 1 July, 2015. In addition they will get 20% of any sell-on fee for Rojo over £18.4m.
No comments:
Post a Comment