Marcos Rojo was against Alexis Sanchez’s move to Manchester United after on-field friction

 

Man United stars Alexis Sanchez (A) and Marcos Rojo (R) joking after a match. [Photo: Courtesy]

Marcos Rojo has revealed his initial shock reaction to being told Alexis Sanchez was signing for Manchester United.

The Argentine defender isn't great friends with the former Arsenal forward, who he admits to "kicking" whenever the Gunners faced Manchester United.

Jose Mourinho was required to warn Rojo prior to Sanchez's arrival to be on his best behaviour and to not "smash" the new recruit on the training ground.

Speaking to TyC Sports, Rojo said: "Alexis is a great player, but we didn't used to get on out on the pitch.

"Every time we came up against one another, whether in internationals or when United played Arsenal, I would give him a good kicking - and he did the same to me.

"On top of that I used to insult him, and he would reply in kind. So when I learned that he was going to join United I said: 'Oh, hell, no, now this guy's going to be here'."

The Manchester United team were out in Dubai when the January transfer went through and Henrikh Mkhitaryan moved in the opposite direction.

Rojo recalled how Mourinho broke the news to him.

"I was calmly sitting in a chair watching a film when Jose Mourinho came up and gave me a tap on the shoulder," the defender added.

"He told me: 'We're going to sign Alexis. I don't want you smashing him up in training tomorrow'. He burst out laughing."