Manchester United have a great deal in terms of quantity at centre half, but are still looking for the right quality.
There’s still discussion about who is the right partner for Harry Maguire, and the same conversation was taking place a year ago.
On this day last year, we wrote about a resurgent Marcos Rojo.
He had made eight appearances already in 2019/20, including all four Europa League group stage ties. United kept clean sheets in every single one.
After a 3-0 win over Partizan Belgrade, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer used his post-match press conference to praise his ‘big heart’ and ‘passion’ for the game.
There was talk that he could be the man to partner Maguire, and being left-footed, he could have provided a handy balance to the back four.
Fast-forward a year, and Rojo finds himself outside United’s Champions League plans.
He is in United’s 25-man Premier League party, but hasn’t played a senior match all season.
His only action has come in an Under-23 clash against Everton last month.
Rojo’s aggression and ability to dominate a physical battle has never been in doubt.
Even as an experienced player aged 30, he still lacks composure. That’s both in possession and in the challenge.
Like Phil Jones and Eric Bailly, injuries have blighted his Old Trafford career, stalling his progress.
Unfortunately for Rojo, he finds himself near the bottom of a long central defensive pecking order one year on from looking close to re-establishing himself as a genuine option for Solskjaer.
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