This article contains adult content that may be inappropriate for minors. Please confirm that you are 18 years or older to continue. This article contains images or details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. Marcos Rojo joined Manchester United in 2014 for €18.5 million after two seasons at Sporting. It seemed a logical move following the defender's impressive performances for Argentina at the World Cup in Brazil, but Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt claim that the initial recommendation came from an unexpected source – the grandson of coach Louis Van Gaal (who also joined United after the World Cup), who dominated with Rojo in FIFA. In the podcast The Good, The Bad and The Football, Butt explained how video games have turned young people into true "couch scouts" and recalled his son's knowledge of world football, emphasizing how the digital world, in unexpected ways, has bridged the gap between virtual scouting and professional scouting. "When we look at the kids, my son, at ten years old, could work in a scouting department. He knew all the players, all thanks to FIFA that they play on Play Station," Butt said. 🚨🗣️ Scholes: "Apparently Louis van Gaal brought a player through his grandson. He told him about Marcos Rojo from Argentina [through playing on FIFA]." Paddy Mc Guiness: "No!" claiming it had to be "one of those made up things." Butt: "No, it’s true, my lad said to me about a… pic.twitter.com/h LNLARpwgf The conversation became even more interesting when Scholes intervened with the alleged story of Rojo's signing. "It is said that Louis van Gaal signed a player on the recommendation of his grandson. He drew his attention to Marcos Rojo from Argentina while playing FIFA," Scholes added. This revelation left host Paddy Mc Guiness incredulous, exclaiming: "It can't be!" However, Butt quickly confirmed that such a scenario is possible, noting how his children often recognize talents long before they become known in the Premier League or other top European leagues. "No, it’s true. My son mentioned some players to me, saying, 'They should sign these three.' I had never heard of them. Believe it or not, about two years later, those players started signing for big European clubs," Butt replied. However, it is hard to believe that Van Gaal did not know the Argentine player when Manchester United signed him, as the English club and Sporting had already been negotiating weeks before the coach arrived at Old Trafford. The Dutchman took over Manchester United immediately after the Netherlands were eliminated in the quarter-finals… precisely by Argentina. As noted by the website dedicated to the club United in Focus, Argentina won after a tense match that ended 0–0, with the South American team prevailing 4–2 on penalties. Marcos Rojo was the left-back throughout the match and even made a shot. It is impossible, it is concluded, that Van Gaal was not aware of Rojo when he was signed for Manchester United weeks later. On the other hand, this does not deny that the grandson may have mentioned Rojo to his grandfather months earlier. At the time of signing the contract, Van Gaal offered an extensive assessment of the new signing. "Marcos is a very talented defender. He can play both as a center-back and as a left-back. He has technique, physical strength, and a willingness to learn, which means he has a very promising future ahead. He had a very strong World Cup and has been playing in Europe for a few years now [before Sporting, he was at Spartak Moscow]," the Dutch coach stated at the time. Rojo spent seven years at Manchester United, making 122 appearances. With the club, he won the FA Cup and the Europa League. The 35-year-old player now plays for Racing Club in Argentina.
Did the Sporting remains central to this story.
Did the Sporting remains central to this story.
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