🚨 Marcos Rojo Completes Emotional Estudiantes Return After Dramatic Racing Exit

Marcos Rojo is set to begin another chapter with Estudiantes after Racing Club accepted a deal that will take the former Manchester United defender back to his boyhood club. The 36-year-old pushed strongly for the move and is expected to sign a contract running until December 2027, with the return coming at a crucial moment ahead of Estudiantes' Copa Libertadores semi-final against Flamengo.

Rojo Gets His Estudiantes Dream

Marcos Rojo's long-awaited return to Estudiantes is finally moving towards completion after Racing Club accepted an improved proposal for the veteran defender.

The former Manchester United centre-back is expected to undergo his medical and complete the formalities before beginning his third spell with the club where he started his senior career.

The agreement brings an end to several days of uncertainty surrounding the defender's future, with Rojo determined to leave Racing and return to La Plata.

A Dramatic Exit From Racing

Rojo's desire to return to Estudiantes played a major role in the negotiations.

The 36-year-old had missed Racing's recent training sessions while discussions over his departure continued. He also agreed to give up a significant portion of money Racing owed him as part of the process that helped unlock the transfer.

Estudiantes are understood to have agreed to pay around $800,000 for the remaining three months of Rojo's Racing contract, with additional payments linked to appearances and victories.

Racing president Diego Milito had initially been reluctant to allow the defender to leave, but eventually accepted the conditions put forward by Estudiantes.

Third Spell at the Club Where It Started

Rojo's return carries plenty of personal significance.

He came through the Estudiantes system and made 54 appearances for the club across his previous spells, scoring four goals. He was also part of the Estudiantes side that won the Copa Libertadores in 2009.

His first return to the club came in 2020 when he joined on loan from Manchester United.

Five years after leaving Estudiantes for Boca Juniors, Rojo is now preparing to return once again — this time with his professional career approaching its final stages.

Libertadores Opportunity Changes Everything

The timing of the move is particularly significant.

Estudiantes are preparing for a Copa Libertadores semi-final against Flamengo, but head coach Alexander Medina has defensive problems to solve.

Leandro González Pirez and Tomás Palacios are suspended for the first leg, creating an immediate need for defensive reinforcements.

Rojo's arrival could therefore provide Estudiantes with an experienced option at exactly the moment they need one.

The club must complete his registration before the relevant deadline if he is to be available for the Libertadores semi-final. Reports indicate that the first leg against Flamengo is scheduled for October 15.

A Chance to Repair His Relationship With the Fans

Rojo's previous departure from Estudiantes left some supporters unhappy after he subsequently joined Boca Juniors.

His return now provides an opportunity to change that final impression.

Rather than simply being another transfer late in his career, the move gives Rojo the chance to finish his playing days at the club where his journey began and potentially compete for another major continental prize.

That emotional element is one of the biggest reasons the transfer has attracted so much attention in Argentina.

From Estudiantes to Manchester United and Back Again

Rojo's career has taken him far beyond La Plata.

After establishing himself in Argentina, he moved to Europe and eventually joined Manchester United in 2014.

During his time at Old Trafford, he made more than 100 appearances and won major honours including the FA Cup, Europa League, EFL Cup and Community Shield.

He later returned to South America with Estudiantes before spending several seasons at Boca Juniors and subsequently joining Racing Club.

Now, after a long and eventful career, Rojo is preparing to return to the club that gave him his first major opportunity.

What Happens Next?

The next step is the formal completion of the transfer.

Rojo is expected to undergo his medical before signing his contract with Estudiantes, with reports indicating that the agreement will run until December 2027.

If everything is completed as expected, his immediate focus will be preparing for Estudiantes' Libertadores semi-final against Flamengo.

For Rojo, it represents much more than another transfer.

It is a return home — and potentially one final opportunity to make a major continental impact with the club where his story began.