Man Utd pair made to train away from rest of squad ahead of likely departures

Manchester United defensive pair Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo are reportedly training away from the rest of the squad as both eye exits from Old Trafford.

Smalling wants to go back to Serie A giants Roma having played 37 times for the Italian club during his loan spell last season.

Roma want to make a permanent move for the 30-year-old England international, but the deal has been held up due to the club’s change of ownership this summer.

Rojo is back at United having only managed to play one game during his loan spell at former club Estudiantes earlier this year.

His attitude in training is said to have impressed United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but there is an acceptance on all sides that the Argentina international will have to leave United in order to get first-team football.

“I couldn’t comment on what Solskjaer thinks but I think it’s obvious,” Rojo’s agent Jonathan Barnett said recently.

“I think with Rojo, probably [a move] is more than likely somewhere else.”

The Manchester Evening News report that both players are being made to train in their own ‘bubble’ away from the rest of the United first-team squad, even arriving at and then leaving the Carrington training complex early in the mornings before the rest of the players turn up.

United are being allowed to start their Premier League season a week late having been involved in the latter stages of the Europa League last season, but they will face Aston Villa in a friendly at Villa Park on Saturday.

Neither Smalling or Rojo are expected to be involved in that game, with Solskjaer picking from his main first-team squad group ahead of the Premier League opener at home to Crystal Palace next weekend.

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