Marcos Rojo's family targeted by armed criminals back home

Rojo’s family came under attack by armed thugs

Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo’s family back in Argentina have been left concerned for their lives, after being targeted by criminals trying to extort the player’s new found wealth.

Rojo’s mother was held at gunpoint as his did was assaulted when thugs tried to get a chunk of the Argentine’s huge salary. Rojo joined United from Sporting Lisbon this summer for £16million.

The glamour of playing for the Red Devils is a disjointed reality from the terrors faced by his previously poor family back home. Rojo’s godson and nine-year-old sister Sol have also come under threat at their home in La Plata, a small city near Buenos Aires.

The defender’s 24-year-old sister Noelia told the Sun, ““We are always scared. They target us because of Marcos. They know the house, everyone knows. We have to take every precaution and we don’t answer the door to anyone.”

“We had to put bars on all our windows — the front, the back and the doors upstairs. It’s dangerous being Marcos Rojo’s family. But we won’t leave because this is our home,” she added.

The Argentine World Cupper has taken to twitter to condemn the attacks and demand that the perpetrators be caught as soon as possible.

“They hit my dad, pointed guns at my mum, my sister and my godson of one year. I want to see what s*** they do now. I’m sick of it,” Rojo said.

Rojo started his career at local club Estudiantes as a 10-year-old and progressed through the ranks to their first team. The versatile defender then signed for Spartak Moscow. He just played 18 months at the Russian club before he was snapped up by Sporting Lisbon. Eventually he moved to Old Trafford for his big money move.