Marcos Rojo already training like an Estudiantes player before signing his contract

Marcos Rojo didn't even need to sign his contract before showing up in Estudiantes colors. As soon as his exit from Racing was unblocked, the defender turned up at the Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, known as UNO, to watch the Pincha's 3 to 0 win over Gimnasia de Mendoza, in a match corresponding to matchday eleven of the Torneo Clausura. A homecoming in every sense, with the Libertadores as the big target on the horizon.

The 36 year old center back arrived at the stadium about an hour before kickoff, after spending several days away from training with his Racing teammates while he pushed to finalize his departure. Already at Estudiantes, he shared the locker room with the squad and with his new coach, Alexander "Cacique" Medina, though he still has to undergo his medical exams and put his signature on the contract.

It was Medina himself who shared the details of that first face to face meeting in his post match press conference. The Uruguayan coach recapped the conversation he had with the defender and had nothing but praise for the determination Rojo showed in order to return to the club where he came up.

I was with Marcos in the locker room, we talked about what's happened these last few days, the excitement he has and how badly he wants this. He did a lot to be here.Alexander Medina

There was also room for nostalgia in that conversation. Medina revealed that the two of them looked back on a key chapter in Rojo's history with the Estudiantes shirt: the 2009 Copa Libertadores, the continental title the defender was part of.

The coach didn't hide his satisfaction at having pulled off the arrival of the experienced center back, and made clear that bringing him in was a direct request from the coaching staff.

We have a new player with very positive energy, we wanted him here and we asked for him. Everyone pushed hard to get him to Estudiantes.Alexander Medina

A roster spot opened up by an injury

Behind this move there's also a regulatory issue at play. Gabriel Neves's injury freed up a roster spot that allows Estudiantes to add Rojo for all competitions, including the Copa Libertadores. That's why the club worked against the clock: the deadline to register players for the Libertadores closes this coming Friday the 9th, so the Pincha is now in position to list him for the semifinal date awaiting them against Flamengo.

How does Rojo arrive in terms of form? At Racing he played 29 matches following his departure from Boca, recording two goals and one assist. Over that same stretch, the defender picked up seven yellow cards and was sent off on two occasions. Numbers that are now in the past, because Rojo's present is, once again, Estudiantes.