Estudiantes seal Marcos Rojo signing for Flamengo ties in Libertadores | OneFootball

Defender accepted a contract until 2027 with Estudiantes (ARG)

Defender Marcos Rojo, 36, already has an agreement to return to Estudiantes (ARG), Flamengo’s opponent in the Libertadores semifinal. The transfer, however, has not yet been announced, something that should happen in the coming hours.

Rojo and Estudiantes reached an agreement in principle on a contract running until December 2027. That means the defender will begin his third spell at the club that developed him. Before that, however, the La Plata side counted on the player’s actions, as he simply stopped showing up for training at Racing (ARG), where he is under contract until December this year.

The initial plan includes medical exams, signing the contract and immediate integration into Alexander ‘Cacique’ Medina’s squad. The expectation is that these steps will be taken over the weekend.

Defender stopped training to force a move

The standoff began after Racing’s 3-2 elimination by Boca Juniors (ARG) in the Copa Argentina quarterfinals. After that, Rojo sought out Diego Milito (Racing president) and said he wanted to return to the club where he came through. The president denied the request, and the conversation ended on bad terms.

Since Tuesday (29), the defender has not reported for Racing training. Because of that, the club is considering punishing him for the absences. The return also involves his relationship with the Estudiantes fans. Some supporters turned against the player after he chose Boca in 2021. Now, Rojo sees the semifinal as a chance to rebuild that connection.

Why Rojo interests Estudiantes against Flamengo

The search for a defender has a concrete reason. Tomás Palacios and Leandro González Pirez are suspended for the semifinal after receiving a third yellow card, as Coluna do Fla reported while detailing Estudiantes’ search for reinforcements. In addition, Uruguayan midfielder Gabriel Neves fractured his wrist and is expected to be sidelined for around three months.

Medina would therefore add experience to a depleted defense. Rojo played in the 2014 and 2018 World Cups for Argentina and finished runner-up in Brazil. In Europe, he played for Spartak Moscow (RUS), Sporting (POR) and Manchester United (ENG).

For Estudiantes, he made his professional debut in 2008. He then won the 2009 Libertadores and the 2010 Apertura. In 2020, he returned on loan, but injuries and the pandemic limited that spell to one match.

Estudiantes, moreover, are going through a turbulent week. On Thursday (01), the team lost to Platense and were knocked out of the Copa Argentina. Days earlier, they had already lost the Supercopa Internacional final to Rosario Central (ARG).

Deadline to register Rojo ends on October 9

The schedule works against Estudiantes. Conmebol regulations allow up to three changes to the list of 50 players registered for the Libertadores. That means the Argentine club has until Friday, October 9, to submit the changes.

So the expectation is that Rojo will be able to face Flamengo in both matches. The first leg will take place on October 15 at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at Estadio UNO in La Plata. The second leg will be on the 22nd, at the same time, at the Maracanã.

Rojo has recent history against Flamengo

A possible reunion would carry special meaning for Flamengo fans. In the 2025 Libertadores semifinal, still with Racing, Rojo scored an own goal in Flamengo’s 1-0 win at the Maracanã. In the return leg, he was involved in the play that resulted in Gonzalo Plata being sent off.

Afterward, Flamengo beat Palmeiras in the final and won their fourth title. In this edition, Leonardo Jardim’s team has already faced Estudiantes twice in the group stage. In La Plata, the teams drew 1-1. Then, Rubro-Negro won 1-0 at the Maracanã.

Whoever advances from the tie will play the final on November 28 in Montevideo. In the other semifinal, Palmeiras and Fluminense are fighting for the second spot.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.