Former Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo has revealed he will be sidelined for “seven to eight months” after suffering the same serious knee injury he sustained at Old Trafford in April 2017.
The Boca Juniors captain said tests had confirmed his worst fears he would need surgery for a cruciate knee ligament injury. The 32-year-old will have his op on Monday before beginning his long road to recovery.
Rojo, who hurt himself when he fell seconds after having a penalty saved in a league match on Wednesday, confirmed after leaving the Buenos Aires clinic where he received the news: “It’s going to be seven or eight months at least. ’m going to take it slowly so I come back in the best shape. On Monday I’ll have the op and then I’ll start thinking about my recovery.”
The dad-of-three, whose litany of injuries with Man United contributed to him playing only 122 games in his seven years at the club, told fans in an emotional Instagram post: “It’s not the first time (nor will it be the last) that I have to get back up after suffering a hard knock.
“You all know about the unfortunate moment I suffered on Wednesday and the time I’ll be sidelined. It’s hard and it’s going to be difficult and I’ll need to think about it the least I can.”
Referring to the messages he’s received from fellow professionals and supporters, he added: “I know it’s a question of time and after so many years in football I can say I’ve never felt as accompanied as I have been in these difficult hours.
“That’s why I want to say thank you to each and every one of you that took a moment of their time to make sure I received your love and affection. It’s without doubt the best way of initiating my recovery.”
Former Old Trafford teammates Ander Herrera and Sergio Romero were among those who posted messages of support on social media.
Herrera, currently on loan at La Liga club Athletic Bilbao from Paris Saint-Germain, sent Rojo a photo of the two of them with their arms round each other in Man United shirts alongside the words: ‘Strength my friend.’
The injury Rojo suffered is the same one that put him out of action for the remainder of the season following a collision in April 2017 during a Europe League win against Belgian side Anderlecht. He was out of action for 206 days because of the injury.
Rojo, stripped of the captain’s armband in a bizarre punishment handed out by the Argentine FA following a red-card tackle in Boca’s victory over arch-rivals River Plate last month, was absent from a total of 174 matches because of injury during his time with the Red Devils. His earliest injury, in November 2014, was a dislocated shoulder.
He also suffered groin problems soon after his August 2014 signing from Sporting Lisbon for £16 million.
