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Marcos Rojo has revealed he went on strike in a bid to force Sporting Lisbon to sell him to Manchester United.

Rojo refused to train with the Portuguese club when it emerged that his £16million move to United was in danger of collapsing over problems with third-party ownership.

It needed the intervention of former United star Juan Sebastian Veron to persuade the defender to go back to work - and Rojo now says he is "living the dream" with the Old Trafford giants.

Rojo, who is sidelined by a dislocated shoulder sustained in the Manchester derby at the start of this month, admitted: "It was a huge surprise when I was told United wanted to buy me.

"I was in Portugal when my representative told me. He asked me to stay calm but I could not. I started living this dream.

"I could not think of anything else. I would call him every day, but when it seemed the transfer would not happen then I refused to work with Sporting.

"That was when Veron played his part in the process. He was like a strict father to me, scolding me.

(Image: Shaun Botterill)

"Veron called me one day when I had refused to train with Sporting and said 'Do not be stubborn. If Manchester United wants a player then they will not let you escape.'

"And so I went back... and the transfer went ahead."

The Argentina international added: "I could not believe the welcome I received in Manchester.

"For the first home game, I was on the way to the stadium with my team-mates, when I saw that the fans were buying scarves with my face and name on them.

"I couldn't believe it. I took some photographs on my phone to send to my girlfriend."