Marcos Rojo admits Manchester United stopped him from joining Everton

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Everton missed out on Marcos Rojo in the summer transfer window.

Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo has told Ole in his native Argentina that he will leave the club in January if he doesn’t get first-team opportunities – and admitted he could have joined Everton.

Rojo, 29, has been with United for five years now, having joined the Red Devils back in 2014 after impressing for Argentina at the World Cup in Brazil.

Rojo has made more than 100 appearances for United either at centre back or left back, but is well down the pecking order under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, especially after the signing of Harry Maguire.

The Argentina international has now admitted that he has spoken to his international boss Lionel Scaloni having been called up for his country, with Scaloni impressed by his pre-season displays.

However, Scaloni noted that Rojo needs to be playing to justify a continued selection, and Rojo himself admitted he will try and leave if his playing situation doesn’t change.

Rojo even admitted that the rumours of a potential move to Everton were true, but either the club or manager Solskjaer put the block on his move, meaning he now has to fight for playing time at Old Trafford.

“I talked to Scaloni, he told me that he was happy because in the preseason I had played many games, that I looked good and that was why he called me, but that I had to play,” said Rojo. “I am sure that to play in the National Team you have to play in your club, you have to be always, and when you are here show why.”

“It is difficult to leave when you are in such a large club. I had the possibility of Everton, but by decisions of the club or the manager could not be done. Now I have to fight it until December and if it does change, I will try to leave,” he added.

Everton remain a centre back short, and given that Marco Silva briefly worked with Rojo at Sporting in Portugal, a new move in January wouldn’t be a shock.

The Daily Mail reported that Rojo was ‘fuming’ that he wasn’t allowed to join the Toffees, and a move going through in 2020 may be best for all parties, if United are willing to strengthen a potential top six rival in the process.