Man Utd flop ordered to change name on back of his shirt after joining new club
Ex-Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo has signed for a new team who won't allow him to have his surname on the back of his shirt. Rojo. 35, has joined Racing Club in his homeland of Argentina.
It's his second permanent transfer since leaving United in February 2021. Rojo spent seven years at Old Trafford, having been signed by Louis van Gaal for £16million after helping Argentina reach the final of the 2014 World Cup.
Able to play at left-back or in the centre of defence, the former Sporting Lisbon man was a handy option under several managers but was never a long-term starter and saw his United career blighted by injuries. Rojo joined Boca Juniors upon his departure from Old Trafford, spending four controversy-laden years with the Argentine giants before his contract was terminated last week.
Now the 35-year-old has signed for Racing Club - but there's a catch. The club's bitter rivals, Independiente, are nicknamed 'El Rojo' which translates to 'The Reds'.
In order to avoid promoting their rivals, Racing Club chiefs asked Rojo to drop his surname from the back of his No.6 shirt. It simply reads 'Marcos R.' instead.
Rojo will feel much more welcome at Racing Club compared to his final weeks with Boca. He didn't make a single appearance under new manager Miguel Angel Russo, who was appointed in June, and was ultimately banned from the dressing room.
A statement confirming his exit read: "Club Atletico Boca Juniors informs that the player Marcos Rojo has signed the termination of his contract. That was the contract that linked him to the Institution.
"During his time at Boca, Marcos played more than 100 matches with our jersey and won four titles. We thank Marcos for his professionalism and commitment to the club and wish him much success in his future challenges."
Rojo quickly made his debut for Racing Club, playing the final nine minutes as they lost 1-0 to Uruguayan heavyweights Penarol in their Copa Libertadores round of 16 first leg away from home on Tuesday. "We had a bad game. But I have absolute confidence that at home it will be different, with our fans," boss Gustavo Costas declared.
"The dream is intact; together we can turn it around. I tell the fans to have faith, to those who came and filled the stands and to those who couldn't get a ticket and had to stay in Argentina. We must recover our game. If we play what we know how to do with the ball, we can turn this around. I have no doubt."
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