Argentine defender, Marcos Rojo, faces one year in prison for a November 2010 incident where he is accused of assaulting his neighbor with a glass bottle. REUTERS/Agustin Marcaria
Manchester United’s newest transfer, Marcos Rojo, who was instrumental in the recruitment of his fellow Argentine countryman, Real Madrid’sAngel Di Maria (who is expected to sign with Old Trafford in the next 24 hours), is facing up to one year in prison for an assault incident that took place in November 2010 in Argentina.
Rojo’s signed a 5 year $26 million dollar deal last week that sent the Argentine defender from Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United. “Playing for the world’s biggest club is a dream for me,” Rojo said last Wednesday. Unfortunately for Rojo, that dream could end before it even started. According to The Sunday People, Rojo is set to stand trial in Argentina for an alleged incident that took place four years ago in La Plata, Buenos Aires.
The paper claims that Rojo was celebrating his transfer from Estudiantes in Argentina to Spartak Moscow when an altercation with then neighbor, Juan Pablo Gomez brokeout. Gomez claims that Rojo broke a bottle over his head and caused injuries to his “face, body and forearm”. Gomez’s lawyer, Marcelo Romero would like Rojo’s to return to Argentina and stand trial. If he is convicted, Rojo could spend a year in prison.
If Rojo does have to see any jail time, it would be a tremendous blow to Manchester United who is relying heavily on the defender’s tenacity for the remainder of the Premier League season. Rojo missed the Red Devils 1-1 draw with Sutherland on Sunday because he is still awaiting a work permit to allow him to play in England. Old Trafford could use their No. 5 as soon as possible as they currently have seven injuries to the starting XI, nine if you include substitutes.
New United coach Louis Van Gaalrevealed over the weekend that he wanted Rojo on his team after watching the gritty defender at the World Cup. Argentina defeated Van Gaal’s Dutch squad in a penalty kick shootout in the semifinal of the FIFA tournament. Apparently, Rojo did enough in that match to impress his new boss.
“I played against him the World Cup so I had to analyze Argentina. In that video I was already enthusiastic about him.
“My philosophy is you should only buy players who fit the profile. Marcos fits in the profile as a central defender and as a left wing-back. He played for Argentina s a wing-back but in Sporting Lisbon he played as a central defender. He shall fit into our profile and he played a fantastic championship. I’m very please.” He said.
Argentina's Marcos Rojo, celebrates his team's World Cup victory against Nigeria in Brazil. Rojo was transferred to Manchester United last week.REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini
The incident in 2010 is just one example of Rojo’s reputation as being a hot head who is unable to control his anger. Even before the latest news of the assault charges surfaced, Van Gaal warned Rojo about controlling his aggression in the Premier League. Rojo has received five yellow cards in two years.
“I like the way he played in The World Cup, so that’s also very important, to be built up. He has to be aggressive in the right moment. When I have to say something about him to criticize, maybe that’s it. He has to control himself.”
