New United signing Rojo still waiting for work permit
Manchester United are still waiting for new signing Marcos Rojo to receive a work permit, manager Louis van Gaal has revealed.
It is also understood that complications over third-party ownership are hindering ratification of the player’s £16m move from Sporting Lisbon by the Premier League.
Rojo, 24, was 75% owned by Doyen Sports, who paid most of the transfer fee when the player moved from Spartak Moscow to Sporting for £3.5m in 2012.
Consequently Doyen believe they are entitled to the majority of the fee for the Rojo move and a row erupted between the company and Sporting prior to the transfer.
Sporting felt Doyen were trying to force Rojo’s sale and consequently felt they had just cause to break off an arrangement with them.
It was assumed the matter had been resolved to some satisfaction when United confirmed Rojo’s signing on August 20.
However, it is understood the Premier League, which forbids third-party ownership, is still working with the club to ensure registration can be completed.
Premier League rules state all third parties must be bought out in order for a player to be registered.
In the meantime, Rojo has returned to Spain to try to secure his work permit.
Van Gaal admits the paperwork has taken longer than the club hoped.
Rojo was unable to play in last week’s Barclays Premier League clash against Sunderland and time appears to be running out for him to face Burnley on Saturday.
Van Gaal said: “Rojo is working on his permit. He has to go abroad for that. The difference between Angel di Maria and Rojo is he has an Italian passport and Rojo not.
“He has an Argentinian passport and he has to work for it. Now he is abroad in Madrid to work in the embassy of Madrid, but it takes more time than we expected.”
