Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo has returned to Argentine club Estudiantes on a short-term loan deal.

Rojo, who was close to joining Everton on the final day of the close-season transfer window, has found opportunities difficult to come by at United this term.

The 29-year-old, signed for £16million from Sporting CP in 2014, has now left Old Trafford, returning to Estudiantes – where he started his career – on loan until the end of the campaign.

Able to play at centre-back or left-back, Rojo has struggled with injuries during his time at United and made 76 Premier League appearances in total.

Estudiantes, who sit 12th in Superliga Argentina, were the first to announce a deal had been struck, posting a video to their official Twitter page along with the caption: "You always return to the places where you were happy. Because of the sense of belonging, it's stronger.

        View this post on Instagram                   No importa cuanto tiempo pasó, o cuanto durará este regreso, pero hoy puedo decir que VUELVO A CASA! A la mía, que es también la de muchos, esa donde te enseñan que el amor por los colores y el "sentido de pertenencia" son valores que los años no pueden borrar. Vuelvo a casa, al barrio, a "UNO", a disfrutar cada Domingo de la familia (pincharrata) en la tribuna, ahí... siempre alentando! Soy Feliz. Gracias a mi familia! Gracias Estudiantes! #MarcosRojoYBlanco A post shared by Marcos Rojo ⚽️ (@marcosrojo) on Jan 30, 2020 at 8:05am PST

"Your dream and that of the Pincha family has come true. We meet again. Welcome and thanks for coming back, Marcos. We welcome you with our hearts."

United, whose manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had said on Tuesday he did not expect to see Rojo leave prior to Friday's transfer deadline, subsequently confirmed the defender's temporary departure.

Estudiantes welcomed Rojo's former Argentina team-mate Javier Mascherano to the club at the start of the month.