Manchester United‘s key move in the January transfer window was to bring in Bruno Fernandes from Sporting CP.
A protracted search for a striker to play a squad role until the end of the season, meanwhile, somehow wound past Josh King, Teemu Pukki and others to land at Odion Ighalo.
But there was also business at Old Trafford with regards to outgoing deals, with Ashley Young heading to Italy and Inter Milan and Marcos Rojo also moving overseas, back to Argentina and his first club Estudiantes de La Plata.
The centre-back has barely featured for United over the last two-and-a-half years, with squad competition and a host of injuries limited his involvement to just 12 games in 2017/18, six last season and nine this. In the Premier League, Rojo has not featured in a matchday squad since playing a single minute at the end of a 3-1 win over Brighton back in November.
It meant a January exit was his only route to first-team action, and the Argentina international, who turns 30 next month, has revealed that family reasons, as well as the desire to regain match fitness, played a big part in his choice of club.
1/21 January transfer power rankings
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2/21 20. Chelsea
It’s been a bleak window for Frank Lampard, who repeatedly called for reinforcements and yet has seen nobody arrive. Edinson Cavani, Dries Mertens, Olivier Giroud is set to stay against his will, while Tariq Lamptey’s refusal to sign a new contract has only added salt to the wound.
EPA
3/21 19. Bournemouth
The Cherries have had to be cautious, considering their financial position and the threat of relegation. Sam Surridge has been recalled from his loan spell at Swansea, while Josh King has been heavily linked with a deadline day move to Manchester United. If the forward does leave, it’s hard to see Eddie Howe’s goal-shy side kicking on in the second half of the season.
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4/21 18. Everton
Richarlison isn’t going anywhere. Not even for an £85m that doesn’t exist. Despite Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival, there’s very little to report aside from Cenk Tosun departing on loan. The club still can’t manage to get Oumar Niasse off the books.
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5/21 17. Norwich
Daniel Farke’s side have signed German journeyman Lukas Rupp from Hoffenheim as well as Ondrej Duda from Hertha Berlin. With little resources to dip into, the Canaries have, most importantly, held onto their best players, but will that be enough to secure safety?
REUTERS
6/21 16. Crystal Palace
It’s a window which could still veer in either direction. Roy Hodgson has repeatedly called for new signings but has so far only seen Cenk Tosun arrive on loan. Extremely highly rated England youth international Nathan Ferguson is set to arrive today, though, as the club brace to miss out on Jarrod Bowen.
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7/21 15. Southampton
Kyle Walker-Peters has arrived on loan from Spurs in a straight switch as Cedric Soares joins Arsenal. Aside from that, though, there’s been very little activity on the south coast with the owners content after Ralph Hasenhuttl’s recent resurgence.
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8/21 14. Burnley
Burnley recalled Nahki Wells from his loan spell at QPR to sell the striker to Bristol City, with highly rated Josh Brownhill joining Sean Dyche’s side in a clever move for the club, who’ve also managed to rid of Danny Drinkwater’s wages.
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9/21 13. Watford
The need for panic at Watford has been significantly subdued by Nigel Pearson’s impressive return. Winger Igancio Pussetto has arrived for £7.2m from sister club Udinese, while prodigious Brazilian striker Joao Pedro has finally joined up with the Hornets too.
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10/21 12. Manchester City
Tumbleweeds. As was explicitly planned, Manchester City will wait until the summer to regenerate their squad. Mission complete.
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11/21 11. Leicester
A window where the sole aim was for Brendan Rodgers’ side to hold onto their key players and Leicester did just that, with both Ben Chilwell and Caglar Soyuncu staying until at least the summer. They’re also set to finally end their search for another centre-half, with Ryan Bennett joining from Wolves.
12/21 10. Arsenal
It was no secret that Arsenal had very little money to operate with in this window and the astute loan signings of Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares, while unspectacular, will certainly provide some much-needed reinforcement for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
13/21 9. Tottenham
The Christian Eriksen saga cast a cloud over Spurs’ January, however, Daniel Levy will be pleased to have secured a £17m fee from Inter Milan, while also shipping out Danny Rose on loan. The £25m arrival of Dutch international Steven Bergwijn has provided excitement, as has Benfica midfielder Gedson Fernandes. The search for a striker though has, so far, left Jose Mourinho criminally short of firepower up front.
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14/21 8. Aston Villa
Villa acted quickly to replace Jonathan Kodija with Mbwana Samatta, while Pepe Reina’s unlikely arrival from AC Milan could be a huge boost to the dressing room. Danny Drinkwater’s arrival is, however, already leaving little to be desired.
Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
15/21 7. Wolves
Uncle Jorge Mendes has worked small wonders again with the arrivals of Daniel Podence and Leonardo Campana, while Patrick Cutrone has been shipped back to Italy.
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16/21 6. Brighton
Aaron Mooy proved to be one of the most valuable signings of the summer and Brighton have made the 30-year-old’s move permanent. Highly rated Chelsea youngster Tariq Lamptey is also set to join in a coup for Graham Potter’s side.
17/21 5. Newcastle
It’s been another typically frantic transfer window for Newcastle, despite speculation around the club’s potential takeover. Valentino Lazaro has arrived from Inter, Nabil Bentaleb brings plenty of promise despite past discipline issues, while Danny Rose is a perfect replacement after Jetro Willems’ season-ending injury.
Newcastle United via Getty Image
18/21 4. Manchester United
It took over six months, but Bruno Fernandes is finally a United player. And, despite all the furore, United will end the month with the player they always wanted. They also managed to recruit a back-up striker by capturing Odion Ighalo on loan.
Manchester United via Getty Imag
19/21 3. Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp’s side continued their impressive recruitment strategy by activating RB Salzburg’s Takumi Minamino’s £7.25m release clause before the window had even officially opened. Now, amid all the other clubs pandemonium, they remain sitting happily 19 points clear of their closest challengers.
Action
20/21 2. West Ham
A window of typical panic could, somehow, still end impressively for West Ham. Jarrod Bowen is on his way to London for a medical, while Tomas Soucek and Darren Randolph are both valuable recruits for David Moyes’s struggling side.
West Ham United FC via Getty Ima
21/21 1. Sheffield United
The Blades have broken their transfer record to bring in coveted Norwegian international Sander Berge from Genk, while Panagiotis Retsos and Richairo Zivkovic are also set to join. Chris Wilder’s side have surpassed all expectations this season, and now they’re being rewarded with firm investment.
Getty Images
1/21 January transfer power rankings
Getty
2/21 20. Chelsea
It’s been a bleak window for Frank Lampard, who repeatedly called for reinforcements and yet has seen nobody arrive. Edinson Cavani, Dries Mertens, Olivier Giroud is set to stay against his will, while Tariq Lamptey’s refusal to sign a new contract has only added salt to the wound.
EPA
3/21 19. Bournemouth
The Cherries have had to be cautious, considering their financial position and the threat of relegation. Sam Surridge has been recalled from his loan spell at Swansea, while Josh King has been heavily linked with a deadline day move to Manchester United. If the forward does leave, it’s hard to see Eddie Howe’s goal-shy side kicking on in the second half of the season.
Getty Images
4/21 18. Everton
Richarlison isn’t going anywhere. Not even for an £85m that doesn’t exist. Despite Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival, there’s very little to report aside from Cenk Tosun departing on loan. The club still can’t manage to get Oumar Niasse off the books.
Getty
5/21 17. Norwich
Daniel Farke’s side have signed German journeyman Lukas Rupp from Hoffenheim as well as Ondrej Duda from Hertha Berlin. With little resources to dip into, the Canaries have, most importantly, held onto their best players, but will that be enough to secure safety?
REUTERS
6/21 16. Crystal Palace
It’s a window which could still veer in either direction. Roy Hodgson has repeatedly called for new signings but has so far only seen Cenk Tosun arrive on loan. Extremely highly rated England youth international Nathan Ferguson is set to arrive today, though, as the club brace to miss out on Jarrod Bowen.
Getty Images
7/21 15. Southampton
Kyle Walker-Peters has arrived on loan from Spurs in a straight switch as Cedric Soares joins Arsenal. Aside from that, though, there’s been very little activity on the south coast with the owners content after Ralph Hasenhuttl’s recent resurgence.
Getty
8/21 14. Burnley
Burnley recalled Nahki Wells from his loan spell at QPR to sell the striker to Bristol City, with highly rated Josh Brownhill joining Sean Dyche’s side in a clever move for the club, who’ve also managed to rid of Danny Drinkwater’s wages.
Getty
9/21 13. Watford
The need for panic at Watford has been significantly subdued by Nigel Pearson’s impressive return. Winger Igancio Pussetto has arrived for £7.2m from sister club Udinese, while prodigious Brazilian striker Joao Pedro has finally joined up with the Hornets too.
Getty Images
10/21 12. Manchester City
Tumbleweeds. As was explicitly planned, Manchester City will wait until the summer to regenerate their squad. Mission complete.
Getty
11/21 11. Leicester
A window where the sole aim was for Brendan Rodgers’ side to hold onto their key players and Leicester did just that, with both Ben Chilwell and Caglar Soyuncu staying until at least the summer. They’re also set to finally end their search for another centre-half, with Ryan Bennett joining from Wolves.
12/21 10. Arsenal
It was no secret that Arsenal had very little money to operate with in this window and the astute loan signings of Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares, while unspectacular, will certainly provide some much-needed reinforcement for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
13/21 9. Tottenham
The Christian Eriksen saga cast a cloud over Spurs’ January, however, Daniel Levy will be pleased to have secured a £17m fee from Inter Milan, while also shipping out Danny Rose on loan. The £25m arrival of Dutch international Steven Bergwijn has provided excitement, as has Benfica midfielder Gedson Fernandes. The search for a striker though has, so far, left Jose Mourinho criminally short of firepower up front.
Getty
14/21 8. Aston Villa
Villa acted quickly to replace Jonathan Kodija with Mbwana Samatta, while Pepe Reina’s unlikely arrival from AC Milan could be a huge boost to the dressing room. Danny Drinkwater’s arrival is, however, already leaving little to be desired.
Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
15/21 7. Wolves
Uncle Jorge Mendes has worked small wonders again with the arrivals of Daniel Podence and Leonardo Campana, while Patrick Cutrone has been shipped back to Italy.
Getty
16/21 6. Brighton
Aaron Mooy proved to be one of the most valuable signings of the summer and Brighton have made the 30-year-old’s move permanent. Highly rated Chelsea youngster Tariq Lamptey is also set to join in a coup for Graham Potter’s side.
17/21 5. Newcastle
It’s been another typically frantic transfer window for Newcastle, despite speculation around the club’s potential takeover. Valentino Lazaro has arrived from Inter, Nabil Bentaleb brings plenty of promise despite past discipline issues, while Danny Rose is a perfect replacement after Jetro Willems’ season-ending injury.
Newcastle United via Getty Image
18/21 4. Manchester United
It took over six months, but Bruno Fernandes is finally a United player. And, despite all the furore, United will end the month with the player they always wanted. They also managed to recruit a back-up striker by capturing Odion Ighalo on loan.
Manchester United via Getty Imag
19/21 3. Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp’s side continued their impressive recruitment strategy by activating RB Salzburg’s Takumi Minamino’s £7.25m release clause before the window had even officially opened. Now, amid all the other clubs pandemonium, they remain sitting happily 19 points clear of their closest challengers.
Action
20/21 2. West Ham
A window of typical panic could, somehow, still end impressively for West Ham. Jarrod Bowen is on his way to London for a medical, while Tomas Soucek and Darren Randolph are both valuable recruits for David Moyes’s struggling side.
West Ham United FC via Getty Ima
21/21 1. Sheffield United
The Blades have broken their transfer record to bring in coveted Norwegian international Sander Berge from Genk, while Panagiotis Retsos and Richairo Zivkovic are also set to join. Chris Wilder’s side have surpassed all expectations this season, and now they’re being rewarded with firm investment.
Getty Images
“Many things came together,” he said in an interview with El Intransigente. “I need to play, return to my level, the family insisted, my old mother told me to come back.
“I had many offers to go to other clubs, but what’s better than being at home. I hope to be on the pitch as soon as possible.”
Rojo came through as a youth player with Estudiantes, spending three seasons with the first team before heading to Russia, Portugal and, ultimately, United.
He says that returning to his first club was something he has hoped for and the presence of ex-Man United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron – now the president at Estudiantes – made it possible.
“I’m very happy. It’s something I dreamed of, there was a chance and it could be done. I talked to Sebastian quite a lot but one day my head clicked and I decided to return. It all came together.
“I suffered a lot of injuries lately, I went to the bench a lot. And I needed to compete and what better than to do it at home.”
Rojo has reached the 20 league games marker just twice in his six years at Old Trafford, and even without him there is plenty of depth for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to call upon, pending fitness.
Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are the established pairing, while Phil Jones has been involved again recently, Eric Bailly is back to fitness finally and Axel Tuanzebe is still at the club.
