Boca Juniors is facing a significant internal crisis after a heated clash between experienced defender Marcos Rojo and manager Miguel Ángel Russo led to the player's exclusion from the first team. The confrontation has resulted in Rojo being banned from the team's dressing room and training facilities, effectively signaling the end of his tenure with the Argentine club.
The dispute reportedly occurred after Russo asked non-starters from a recent match to skip a team meeting focused on self-criticism. Rojo, unhappy with the decision, left the training ground without participating. This incident wasn't the first sign of friction between the player and the coach, as a previous altercation had already taken place during the team's stay in Miami.
The consequences of the clash have been far-reaching. Rojo, along with Marcelo Saracchi and Cristian Lema, have been removed from first-team activities. The trio is now training separately and has been barred from entering the locker room. Adding to the controversy, reports indicate that the players were informed of their exclusion not by Russo or his staff, but by a club equipment manager.
Despite being instructed to use an alternate locker room, Rojo, Lema, and Saracchi reportedly defied the order by entering the main first-team facilities to gather their belongings and change alongside their teammates. This act was perceived as a direct challenge to the coaching staff's authority.
Boca Juniors' management is now seriously considering terminating the contracts of Rojo, Lema, and Saracchi. Rojo had previously expressed a desire to leave Boca before the Club World Cup, and his recent conduct has accelerated the club's willingness to part ways. Club officials have described him as a "problem to solve" rather than a player to retain.
Rojo's disciplinary history, marked by injuries, suspensions, and moments of volatility, has reportedly tested the patience of both the coaching staff and executives. Russo is said to have insisted that harmony and discipline are essential for the squad to reverse its poor form.
The 35-year-old defender's last appearance for Boca Juniors was on May 10. With his contract set to expire in mid-2026, Rojo's future in professional football remains uncertain. He had reunited with former Manchester United teammates Ander Herrera and Edinson Cavani at the club.
Rojo has a history of disciplinary issues. In 2021, he was handed a significant ban and a fine for his involvement in a tunnel brawl following Boca Juniors' Copa Libertadores exit. He was seen grabbing a fire extinguisher off a wall as players clashed. In 2022, he was banned from being Boca Juniors' captain for a month after being sent off for a rash challenge in a Superclasico match.
Prior to joining Boca Juniors, Rojo had a lengthy career in Europe, including a six-and-a-half-year spell at Manchester United. During his time with the Red Devils, he won the Europa League, League Cup, and FA Cup.
