compatriot after a difficult first season at Old
Trafford and believes Real Madrid target David De
Gea is one of the world's best goalkeepers
Marcos Rojo believes Angel Di Maria remains the
“most talented player” at Manchester United
despite his frustrating first season at Old Trafford.
The Argentina star was signed for a Premier
League record £59.7 million from Real Madrid last
summer and impressed in his first appearances in
a United shirt.
A wonderful chipped effort in the 5-3 defeat to
Leicester City in October marked a high point in
his early-season form but he has since struggled
for consistency, and spent the final weeks of the
season on the bench.
Rojo, who is likely to start alongside Di Maria
when Argentina take on Paraguay in the Copa
America semi-finals, remains confident his class
will eventually shine through.
“For me, the player with the most talent at
Manchester United is Angel,” Rojo told Goal .
“There are great players at the club, but Angel for
me is one of the best in the team and in the world.
“It has been a difficult year for him. He had some
problems adapting, but that’s normal. Any player
coming to a new country and a new league has to
adapt to the differences and that’s what happens.
But I’m sure he will do really well in the months
ahead.”
It promises to be another summer of transition at
United, with the club having already completed the
signing of Dutch winger Memphis Depay from PSV.
There are also likely to be several players heading
through the exit door – one of whom could be
current No.1 goalkeeper David De Gea.
The 24-year-old was named in the PFA Team of
the Year for 2014-15 but is yet to extend a
contract that expires next summer and has been
strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid.
“If David is not the best goalkeeper in the world
today, then he is very close,” Rojo admitted. “He
has adapted really well to the Premier League this
past year.
“He is at an incredible level – I see him day, in,
day out and he is an outstanding goalkeeper. As I
say, if he is not the best in the world today, he is
very close. I am very happy he is being
recognised because he is a great goalkeeper.
“Ever since I came to the club he has treated me
as a brother. I’m very happy for his present
moment and whatever lies ahead for him, I wish
him the best.”
Despite injuries limiting him to 22 league games,
Rojo enjoyed a positive first season at United,
operating at both centre-back and left-back for
Louis van Gaal.
The defender, 25, says he has adapted well to life
in Manchester and joked that the manager, whose
end-of-season awards speech went viral, was not
always as stern as he can seem on the touchline.
“The manager is good fun sometimes,” Rojo said.
“[The awards night] was a moment we enjoyed
together with the team. They are different moments
where you can enjoy yourself away from a football
pitch or a training session. It’s important to enjoy
those moments as well.
“I feel very good. I’m very happy, the club is
incredible and the people I have met here are
fantastic. My wife and my daughter have helped
me a lot. They are always by my side and
everything has been easy.
“The language is a little difficult but I am keen to
learn. I take classes all week because I like it, I’m
interested and I would love to learn it quickly to be
able to communicate with my team-mates and
with the fans. That will help me in my adaptation
as well.”
Rojo will have little time to rest over the summer
months due to his inclusion in Argentina’s Copa
America squad.
The Albiceleste were beaten by Germany in last
year’s World Cup final but will have another
chance to win a major tournament if they can
defeat Paraguay in Tuesday’s last-four clash.
“The Copa America is a very demanding
tournament,” Rojo added. “There are great teams,
players with so much quality who play for some of
the best clubs in the world. That’s what makes it
so attractive. It’s a very fast and attractive football
– and that’s what makes the Copa interesting.
“I have the best sensations for the Copa América
and high hopes as well. We want to go as far as
we can and, if possible – and this is the desire of
all Argentines – winning the title would be
something very special to mark an era after
reaching the final of the World Cup last year.
“Now we have a chance for some revenge in this
Copa. We want to play a great Copa and to achieve
our objective which is the most important thing for
us and for Argentine football.”
Marcos Rojo spoke to Goal about his five-a-side
dream crew and the Nike Football App, which
gives users first access to products and exclusive
events, allows them to create their own crew and
helps them to find and challenge other crews in
open games.
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