The saga between Boca and Racing

After many twists and turns, the chapter in the saga between Marcos Rojo and Boca Juniors came to an end, but almost immediately another one began, as if it were a continuation of the previous story.
The player agreed to terminate his contract — which was set to run until December this year with Boca — to join the ranks of Gustavo Costas and Diego Milito. However, an unexpected problem has emerged that could sideline the newly signed 35-year-old defender. This week, Racing will travel to Uruguay to play the first leg of the Copa Libertadores Round of 16 against Peñarol, but will they be able to count on their brand-new signing?

Step-by-step of the conflict

The former captain was completely excluded from the professional squad. With a valid contract and influence in the locker room, he was sidelined after repeated clashes with the coaching staff, the latest coming after a loss to Huracán. The situation blew up at Ezeiza: a heated argument, leaving training, and the drastic decision to remove him along with Lema and Saracchi.

To make matters worse, he learned from a kit man that he was no longer allowed to use the main locker room. Although there were rumors linking him to Independiente, everything pointed to a move to Estudiantes, where reports claim Juan Román Riquelme offered Rojo plus $2.5 million for midfielder Santiago Ascacíbar — an offer rejected by Juan Sebastián Verón.

“I have to leave a place I never wanted to leave, but I believe cycles come to an end,” Rojo wrote in a letter posted on his social media, where he notably omitted thanks to the club’s board.

Numbers and contract with Racing

Rojo played 118 matches, scored 9 goals, and won 4 titles with Boca: the Copa Argentina 2019–20, the Copa de la Liga 2022, the Liga Profesional 2022, and the Supercopa Argentina 2022. The “Xeneize” was the second club where he made the most appearances in his career, just behind Manchester United.

Leaving Boca opened the door for Racing, with a productivity-based contract running until December 2026. However, article 19.2.4 of the AFA regulations prevents registering players for local tournaments if they part ways with their clubs after July 24. For this reason, Racing cannot register Rojo for the Clausura Tournament, but he will be eligible for the Copa Argentina and the Copa Libertadores, where he is already registered.