Marcos Rojo is yet another panic buy from Manchester United in what is looking like yet another poor summer spending spree.
Yes, Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera have great talent but both were way over-priced and they aren’t exactly finished articles, or “galacticos” if you will.
Rojo falls into the same category but because it is the God-like figure of Louis Van Gaal doing the buying this year fans seem less ready to question his admittedly reputable opinion.
It doesn’t mean he’s always right though.
Rojo has played just 100 club games for three different clubs, in Russia, his native Argentina and Portugal, where United found him.
At 24 Rojo has time on his side to mature into a great defender, by which time the £16m may look like a great investment but at the minute – as Paul Scholes so finely put it – Manchester United need proven great players.
Manchester United need leaders on the pitch, players ready to deal with adversity and expectation in a mature fashion. Estudiantes, Spartak Moscow and Sporting Lisbon’s respective expectations are a far cry away from the demands of Old Trafford.
The Argentina centre-back has played in a World Cup final, but plenty of non-world-class players have featured in such occasions. Edson Braafheid played in a World Cup final while Djimi Traore has played in a Champions League final, as if to prove that point.
Manchester United needed a Toni Kroos, a Cesc Fabregas, a Hummels this summer. Big men and big players who know what is expected at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
In Rojo, Herrera and Shaw it looks as if Louis Van Gaal is planning for the future but without challenging for League titles and Champions League football, it may prove a difficult future in which to tempt the Fabregas’ and Hummels’ of this world to Old Trafford.
But then again, it’s Louis Van Gaal. Everything will be fine… won’t it?
Source: DSG
