Robin van Persie - Photo Paul Blank, Wikimedia Commons
It’s a big claim, and the Sun are claiming it as an exclusive. Robin van Persie is a serious candidate for a move to Old Trafford, apparently. But is it purely an exclusive because nobody else thought it newsworthy? Let’s read on:
Van Utd
Nice.
MANCHESTER UNITED are monitoring Arsenal star Robin van Persie.
True or not, monitoring means literally nothing. With the amount of scouts, OPTA stats, in-depth analysis of one’s opposition, United will be monitoring a huge number of players.
Sir Alex Ferguson is aware the £20million-rated striker is yet to commit to a new contract at The Emirates.
And the United chief’s interest has intensified after Van Persie admitted prizes mean more to him than money.
No, that would be a reason that van Persie’s interest in United could have increased, not the other way around. How did Ferguson come around to that decision then?
David Gill: Hey Alex, how’s it going?
Alex Ferguson: Yep, great thanks.
David: Listen, bit random I know, but what do you think of Robin van Persie?
Alex: The Arsenal forward?
David: The very same.
Alex: Well, yeah, he’s quite good at football.
David: Well, what if I told you that he’s more interested in prizes than money?
Alex: Obviously my interest would intensify.
David: Why? He’s still literally exactly the same player.
Alex: How many league titles have you won?
David: What?
Alex: Exactly.
He recently admitted: “In the last four years I’ve won only one prize, the FA Cup, and that is too little. I want more.”
Van Persie has one year left on his current deal.
Or two, depending on where you read.
The Gunners have offered the Dutchman £80,000 a week, considerably less than Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand earn at Old Trafford.
Irrelevant supplementary information. It’s also considerably more than, say, being on the dole, or working at Tesco.
But Van Persie, 26, is more interested in who boss Arsene Wenger plans to sign this summer than the money on the table.
So again, why would it matter about how much Rooney and Ferdinand earn? And wasn’t there news yesterday about United’s transfer policy of only spending big money on players under 26 which would throw doubt on this one?
He said: “Financially the offer is fine but that is not everything to me. It’s about my ambition and how that can be fulfilled.”
United are not the only club watching with interest - Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho is also keen.
A Dutch source added: “Robin loves it at Arsenal but he is getting to the age when he wants to win things. He knows that there are clubs interested in him and is waiting to see what happens.”
Thanks, Mr or Mrs Dutch source. This is only (incredibly speculative) evidence that van Persie is considering a move, rather than Manchester United moving for him. Because United and Arsenal don’t really do business like that. And Arsene Wenger is unlikely to want to sell him, and doesn’t have to. The last player to join Manchester United from Arsenal was Viv Anderson in 1987. We’re just saying, we might need more reasons to believe this than have been provided.
