Van Persie: The little boy inside me screamed 'Manchester United!'

The 29 year-old Dutch striker completed his move to Old Trafford and spoke glowingly about the club's history and the opportunity to play for the side.

 At his press conference unveiling, it was revealed that Van Persie would be taking the No.20 shirt for the coming campaign, after Fabio vacated it after he moved to QPR on a season-long loan deal this summer.

 The Dutch international and current PFA Player of the Year was keen to explain his reasoning behind the controversial switch, insisting that there was no ill will between Arsenal and himself, but that he simply couldn't turn the chance down.

 "From my side and Arsenal's side, there is no hard feeling. No one is angry with me and I'm not angry with them," Van Persie told reporters.

 "Arsenal are part of my life. They've been great to me. We didn't agree on the future - that's life. "When I have to make tough decisions in my life I listen to the little boy inside me. That little boy was screaming 'Manchester United'" "Manchester United breathes football.

 This club is the perfect match for me." After seeing the club pipped to the title last term by local rivals Manchester City, Van Persie indicated that he was keen to rise to the challenge of playing for the club alongside players that he's admired from afar for years.

 "For me it's a big challenge to do it together with the players here. Every single one is very helpful. It's like a family club. "This is the biggest challenge for me In my football life.

 ""Wayne Rooney is a world class player. Scholes & Giggs are world class and have proved it for 20 years. They had a big impact. "This is a big challenge for me, which I'm looking forward to.

 I am proud to be here & look forward to achieving big things."

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Manchester United confirm new Robin van Persie bid

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Manchester United have launched a fresh bid to sign Robin van Persie, and insists he’s prepared to fight to land the Arsenal captain.

 After seeing his side lose a penalty shoot-out to Barcelona following a 0-0 pre-season draw, Fergie officially acknowledged United’s interest in the Dutch striker, but revealed he has so far been stonewalled by the Gunners board.

 ‘We've made a bid,’ Ferguson said. ‘They've been trying to negotiate with other clubs. We have to persevere. Hopefully it comes our way.

 ‘We're trying our best but there's no progress at this moment in time. ‘We're not getting any breakthrough with Arsenal.

 It's difficult to say why they're operating this way. I don't know what their thoughts are because they're not giving anything away.’

 United have struggled for goals during pre-season, and Fergie is clearly aware of the need for fresh firepower, especially after losing Brazilian target Lucas Moura to Paris Saint-Germain.

 But the Red Devils manager insists he was never going to be dragged into a crazy bidding war with the French giants over an unproven youngster.

 ‘I find it quite amazing that a club can pay €45million for a 19-year-old boy,’ he added.

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RVP joins Arsenal for pre-season

Robin van Persie has flown out to Germany with Arsenal for the club's pre-season friendly against Cologne as speculation mounts that he will stay at Emirates Stadium.

 Van Persie, 29, is wanted by Juventus and both Manchester clubs, but none of the trio have yet offered anything like the fee Arsenal are demanding before they would consider selling their striker.

 Arsenal have made it clear they will keep the Dutchman for the final year of his current contract unless they are paid £25 million, but the interested clubs do not want to stump up a big fee on top of his reported wage demands of £190,000 a week, and there is a growing belief that he could now stay in North London.

 Van Persie challenged Arsene Wenger and the club last month when he issued a statement explaining why he wanted to leave the Emirates, claiming Arsenal lacked ambition.

 Wenger has certainly tried to meet that challenge with a series of big-name signings including highly rated Spanish international forward Santi Cazorla, who is also reported to have flown to Germany as part of the Arsenal squad even though his £16.5 million transfer has yet to be officially completed.

 Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud have also arrived and are part of the 24-man squad that travelled to Germany on Monday.

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United in the box seat for Van Persie after City boss Mancini concedes defeat in striker race

Roberto Mancini has admitted defeat in his pursuit of Arsenal's Robin van Persie.

 The Italian has been desperate to bring the striker to the Etihad but have faced stiff competition from Manchester United and Serie A giants Juventus.

 And after it emerged that Sir Alex Ferguson had stayed in Britain while his team were in Norway in a bid to force through a £20million deal for the Dutchman, Mancini has revealed his club are no longer in the race.

 When asked about the Gunners star, the City boss said: 'Van Persie? No, I don't think he will come here.'

 United now expect to get the coveted signature of last season's Premier League top goalscorer by the time the new campaign kicks off on August 19.

 The club also expect to add young Brazilian Lucas Moura to their ranks in the coming days. Meanwhile, after the failed attempt to lure Van Persie to the Premier League champions, Mancini expects Edin Dzeko to remain.

 The Bosnian has failed to live up to the £27million City paid Woflsburg for him 18 months ago, and is wanted by several top clubs around Europe.

 However, responding to speculation about Juve and AC Milan's interest in the forward, Mancini added on Italian television: 'I'm pleased, as this means we have good players, but it’s pretty unlikely he will leave.'

 Speaking to German media this week, Dzeko hit out at his lack of playing time - he started just 16 league games last season - and suggested he would be ready to leave for the right club.

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Italian agent claims Van Persie to Juve move is 'done' deal

Robin van Persie looks fed up as his exit from Arsenal continues to drag on.

 The Dutchman was seen working on his fitness at The Gunners' London Colney training ground.

 Premier League champions Manchester City, rivals Manchester United and Italian title holders Juventus are all competing for Van Persie's signature. But in a bizarre claim by a FIFA agent, he claims the deal to Italy is already done.

 Fabio Parisi, who is based in Milan and represents the Nigerian defender Tayo Taiwo, was quoted on Italian TV saying: 'I think Juventus have had a signed contract with Van Persie for some time locked away in a notary’s desk. 'It is just my opinion, but I think there’s an eight out of 10 chance the Dutchman will join the Bianconeri.

 'Juventus want to win and he is considered the ideal addition to achieve that. I don’t think Edin Dzeko is the right player for the Bianconeri.'

 While the claims are yet to be backed up, any move to Juventus could hit the skids following the news that Antonio Conte, manager of Italian Serie A winners, has been banned three months and fined €200,000 over the footballing nation's Calcioscommese match-fixing scandal.

 Better news for Van Persie is that he has been named in the Dutch squad for Louis van Gaal's squad for the friendly with Belgium later this month.

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Ferguson confirms bid for Van Persie

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson,has confirmed they have made a bid for Arsenal’s most wanted player Robin Van Persie.

 Speaking on the club’s television,Ferguson said:”Obviously Arsenal have given out the fact that we’ve made a bid for him,” “We try to keep business as close as possible to us until the moment we conclude a deal.

 There’s no point talking about something that might not happen.

 “There are other clubs interested in the player. We’ve shown an interest and that’s where we’re at at the moment” Ferguson said.

 Earlier today, Robin Van Persie declined travelling with the rest of Arsenal’s squad on their pre-season tour of Asia,after stating on his official website two weeks ago,about his intent on not signing a new at the Emirates.

 Manchester United, Juventus and Manchester City have all reportedly lodged bids around £15m, but Arsenal are holding out for a fee in excess of £20m.

 It is left to be seen if the deal materializes,as City are the favourites to land the player,with their enormous spending power.

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Henry: Arsenal can cope if Van Persie leaves

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry hopes Robin van Persie stays at the club but believes the Gunners are more than capable of coping if the forward departs.

 Van Persie, 28, has been heavily linked with a move away after revealing a desire to leave the club earlier in the summer, with Manchester United, Manchester City and Serie A giants Juventus all interested in a move for the Dutchman.

 Gunners boss Arsene Wenger remains hopeful of holding on to his star striker but Henry is unsure whether the player will remain at the club.

 "We hope he stays and that's the way it is," the Frenchman told reporters. "I don't know exactly what is happening but as an Arsenal fan I want him to stay. "He is still an Arsenal player and the boss has to deal with it.

 I just want Arsenal to do well. Robin will do what he will do and we'll see. "When I left, everybody cried, but then the year after they went on a run of being eight points ahead. Everyone comes and goes."

 Van Persie has less than a year remaining on his existing contract with the Gunners and has insisted he does not intend to extend his deal beyond the end of the current season.

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Arsenal's Robin van Persie in Juventus' sights again as Italians prepare to offer club record wages of £190,000

The Italian champions have already had a £10 million offer rejected but are emerging as an increasingly serious threat to the two Manchester clubs in the battle for Van Persie, particularly as the Arsenal captain himself is understood to be attracted by a move to Serie A.

 No formal second offer has gone in but, according to sources in Italy, Juventus have remained in contact with Arsenal and will make a significantly improved offer.

 Juventus are also prepared to make Van Persie the highest paid player in their history, with wages of around £190,000 a week on a potential five-year deal.

 Manchester United and Manchester City have also had respective offers of around £10 million and £12 million rejected, but are yet to return with second bids.

 Arsenal will not listen to offers below £20 million and, having got £24 million for Samir Nasri in similar circumstances last year, regard the first round of offers for Van Persie as completely unrealistic.

 If it is decided to sell Van Persie and Juventus are now massively out-bid, however, there is an obvious attraction in sending him to Serie A rather than a Premier League rival.

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Wenger concedes Van Persie could leave Arsenal this summer

Despite the Dutchman's refusal to sign a new contract with the Gunners, Wenger insists that the club's main aim is to keep the skipper at the Emirates, but hinted that he would prefer any deal to be done before domestic action gets underway.

 Wenger told reporters: "We are very, very ambitious.

 You know that. Not only very ambitious but also very proud of the way we run our club.

 "Van Persie is a world-class striker and I am a big supporter of him. I have supported him throughout.

 "He has one year left and is in demand but our desire is to keep him, however, we will do what is in best interest of the club. If you have a decoder in your head you can decode that.

 "The official transfer deadline is August 31 but then we can create an internal deadline."

 When asked if that would be before the start of the current campaign, the 62-year-old replied: "Of course.

 I believe the transfer market should stop before the season starts anyway."

 The Frenchman also dismissed claims that a move for Van Persie could destabilise the Gunners' squad, pointing to the arrivals of Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud as proof that Arsenal can still be successful if the Dutchman does leave the Emirates.

 Wenger continued: "The situation is not the same as last season [when Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri left] because we have a squad that is solid and used to playing together.

 "We have bought two strikers in Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski.

 "The seriousness of last year’s situation was made difficult for us by injuries, not only through the transfer market."

 The former Monaco boss also highlighted his doubts that Van Persie was behind the statement issued on the Dutchman's official website, that claimed he would refuse any offer of a new deal with the club.

 He noted: "I wouldn’t like to comment too much on that situation because you’re not always sure that it’s Van Persie’s statement, you know.

" Theo Walcott is also entering the final year of his contract, and has similarly been linked with a departure from north London, and while Wenger insisted he also wanted to keep the England international, he hinted that he is confident Walcott could be replaced from within the squad.

 And Wenger said: "The contractual situation is the same. They both have one year and the selection of the tour is not linked to that.

 "We will see. We sort these situations out always in the best interests of the club. We have plenty of young players and you see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain here.

 "We have plenty of young players. We bought Walcott when he was young and we want to keep our players. We always want to keep them."

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Van Persie pulls out of Arsenal tour to force Manchester City move

the Dutch striker has refused to travel on the club’s three-match trip to Malaysia and China, which begins on Saturday afternoon when the club fly to Kuala Lumpur for the first leg of the tour.

 Van Persie has raised the stakes as he goes head-to-head with Arsenal in his battle to quit the club.

 Manager Arsene Wenger is believed to have reluctantly accepted Van Persie’s position and the 28-year-old will remain at London Colney next week to train with the club’s academy and reserve players and the more established men who will be left behind to recover from injury such as Jack Wilshere, Bacary Sagna and Emmanuel Frimpong.

 it is understood that Arsenal will stick to their guns and play hardball with Van Persie by refusing to grant the Dutchman a simple exit out of the club this summer.

 Contrary to widespread reports that Manchester United have made an official bid for the striker, it is understood that this is not the case and that the Old Trafford club have instead prioritised the signing of Brazilian playmaker Lucas Moura, and are also pursuing Real Madrid star Nuri Sahin.

 Sources have said that United’s neighbours, Manchester City, are in pole position to sign Van Persie and that a lucrative package is in place to take the reigning PFA Player of the Year to the Etihad Stadium.

 Despite the Netherlands star reiterating his stance that he wants to quit Arsenal before the transfer window closes and effectively going on strike, the club are ready to stick to their strategy of holding him to his contract, which expires in 11 months.

 The north Londoners have calculated that the striker will have less chance of being awarded a lucrative, four-year contract next year from one of his suitors because of his age – he turns 30 in August 2013 - and chequered injury history.

 Van Persie and his representatives, meanwhile, have determined that they will force Arsenal into a sale by pushing even harder for a transfer than the likes of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas.

 The Dutchman delivered a bombshell with the statement via his own website on July 4, which effectively said he wanted to leave because he disagreed with Wenger and the board of directors "in many aspects … on the way Arsenal should move forward".

 He also announced that he would not extend his contract before it expires next June.

 Van Persie has risked tarnishing his legacy with Arsenal fans following his remarkable performances in the 2011-2012 season, when he scored 37 goals and inspired the team to third in the Premier League after a disastrous start to the campaign.

 Arsenal fly to Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, for their three-match pre-season tour of Asia, which also takes in Beijing and Hong Kong, with the Gunners set to play Manchester City at Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium on July 27.

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Man United Believe They Have Won the £20m race to Sign Arsenal Striker Robin Van Persie

Manchester United boss believes RvP will snub interest from neighbours City and Italian champs Juventus and link up with Wayne Rooney Manchester United believe they have won the £20million race to sign Robin van Persie.

 United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is confident the Arsenal captain will team up with Wayne Rooney to form a formidable strike-force in a rebuilt side he hopes can win back the title.

 Van Persie scored 30 Premier League goals last term to help the Gunners to third in the table, while Rooney struck 27 times for United.

 Ferguson is understood to have told footballing friends he believes van Persie will be moving to Old Trafford, despite the interest of money-bags Premier League champions Manchester City and Italian league winners Juventus.

 Sir Alex Ferguson could well do with an attacking addition and there are fewer in-form strikers in Europe that Robin Van Persie.

 Arsene Wenger will apparently have last ditch talks with the 28 year old Dutchman ahead of the North London club’s departure for their Asian tour, those talks do not appear to have much hope to succeeding given that the player has publicly stated his intention to not sign a new contract.

 One wonders if Wenger would prefer to sell to United than letting another of his top talents move to the Etihad Stadium, not least because the Frenchman enjoys a fairly amenable relationship with Ferguson.

 The Man United boss may well feel a move for Van Persie is too good an opportunity to turn down.

 The Old Trafford boss elected to not renew Michael Owen’s contract and Dimitar Berbatov has pleaded to be allowed to leave.

 The Arsenal captain could perhaps be used as an effective strike partner for Wayne Rooney, an option that may seem all the more plausible given the very average form displayed by Mexican Javier Hernandez in his notoriously awkward second season.

 However perhaps Van Persie would prefer a move abroad but if Arsenal do accept they have to cash in on their goal machine they may well just opt to accept whichever offer is highest and £20m is a decent price for a player with just 12 months to run on his contract.

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Robin van Persie will not sign new Arsenal contract

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has announced that he will not be signing a new deal at the club.

 The 28-year-old, who has a year left on his current contract, confirmed that he had met with manager Arsene Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis.

 But he revealed that they disagree on the way the club should move forward.

 "I've thought long and hard about it, but I have decided not to extend my contract," the Dutchman wrote on his personal website.

 It is not yet clear whether Van Persie, who scored 41 goals in 53 games for club and country and was named both the Professional Footballers' Association and Football Writers' player of the year last season, will see out the remainder of his contract or seek a move away from the Emirates.

 The Gunners do not want a repeat of last summer, when Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri were sold after the season had started.

 The Dutch international added that there would be further meetings once Gazidis returns from a two-week holiday in America and that he would provide updates "if and when there are more developments".

 Referring to his meeting - on 16 May - with Wenger and Gazidis, Van Persie said: "This was a meeting about the club's future strategy and their policy.

 Financial terms or a contract have not been discussed, since that is not my priority at all. "I personally have had a great season but my goal has been to win trophies with the team and to bring the club back to its glory days.

 Out of my huge respect for Mr Wenger, the players and the fans I don't want to go into any details, but unfortunately in this meeting it has again become clear to me that we in many aspects disagree on the way Arsenal FC should move forward.

 On Tuesday, Wenger wrote in his Eurosport column: "We want to keep Robin van Persie at all costs, because we depend on him offensively.

 I have always supported him even in the hardest times, and I hope he will end his career at Arsenal.

 Van Persie, who Joined from Feyenoord for £2.75m in 2004, said his statement was a necessity because of the abundance of media speculation regarding his future.

 I love the club and the fans, no matter what happens," he added. "I have grown up and became a man during my time with Arsenal FC.

 "Everybody at the club and the fans have always supported me over the years and I have always given my all [and more] on and off the pitch.

 I am very proud of being part of this fantastic club for the last eight years.

" Arsenal have seen a number of their club captains leave over recent seasons, with Patrick Vieira (to Juventus), Thierry Henry and Fabregas (both to Barcelona) all departing.

 The club have not won a trophy since beating Manchester United on penalties in the 2005 FA Cup final, the summer after which Vieira was sold.

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Hands off!: Arsenal 'not interested' in selling Van Persie

Robin van Persie will hold crunch talks with Arsene Wenger this week, as Arsenal insist they are not "in the remotest bit" interested in selling him.

 Italian champions Juventus claim they have had a rock-bottom £8million approach for van Persie turned down, but the Gunners claim they have not had an offer and will fight to keep their captain.

 Juve are only prepared to go up to £15m for the 28-year-old Dutchman, who only has 12 months left on his current deal.

 Manchester City are also poised to move in for van Persie this week. Van Persie is on holiday after playing at Euro 2012, but is planning on talking to Arsenal manager Wenger by phone this week.

 He has already made it clear he will not sign the new £130,000-a-week, three-year contract the Gunners are offering.

 Meanwhile, Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood said: “As far as I am aware, nobody has made any offer for him and he is away so we are not in any dialogue at all.

 “We are not in the remotest bit interested in selling him.

 Despite Hill-Wood’s stance, Arsenal face a dilemma over whether to sell van Persie this summer or lose him on a free at the end of the coming season.

 They are prepared to hold van Persie to his contract unless a) the transfer fee offered becomes too much to turn down and b) the Dutchman makes it clear he will sulk his way through the final year of his deal.

 Unless Juventus increase their offer, City are the only serious contenders.

 Although Paris Saint-Germain and ambitious Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala are also in the frame. 

 Arsenal sold midfielder Samir Nasri to City last summer when he only had a year left, and now face the same situation with van Persie.

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Juve Van Persie bid rejected

Juventus have had a €10 million offer for Arsenal striker Robin van Persie rejected by the North London club, according to an Italian report.


 Juve had tabled an unsuccessful bid for Van Persie, who scored 27 goals for the Gunners last season and has been the subject of speculation linking him with Juventus, Manchester City and Paris St Germain.


 The report said Juve would have to increase their offer to stand any chance of landing the Netherlands international.


 On Sunday, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini suggested that he was unlikely to sign Van Persie for the Premier League champions.


 City have been strongly linked with a swoop for 28-year-old Van Persie, whose future, having entered the final 12 months of his contract at the Emirates.


 Mancini told Sport Italia: "Van Persie? He is an Arsenal player and I don't want to disrespect Wenger. "We have four strikers and we will start the pre-season in five days.

 It's unlikely there will be major changes in such a short time."

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Arsene Wenger is Confident that Robin Van Persie Will Stay

Arsene Wenger is 'certain' Robin Van Persie will stay at Arsenal. 

 The Dutchman has only one year left to run on his current deal at the Gunners and has yet to agree a new contract at the Emirates.

 Van Persie has been targeted by both Juventus and Manchester City, with rumours suggesting a fee of around £30million should be enough to force Arsenal's hand.

 But speaking to Corriere Dello Sport, Wenger claimed those reports are wide of the mark and that the 28-year-old will stay in north London.

 "I am certain that Robin will remain with us," he said.

 "If you want to know why I am so certain Robin will remain with us, it is because there is no reason in this world why a great player like Van Persie should go and play for you, in Italy and in your competition. "Your football (Serie A) is at an inferior level to the Premier League."

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Manchester City set £15m limit on bid to sign Van Persie

Premier League champions will not be held to ransom by Arsenal as they cool their interest in Dutch spearhead and turn their attention to other striker targets.

 The Premier League champions have registered their interest in the Dutch spearhead but are adamant they will not be held to ransom on the transfer fee. 

 We understands that City’s interest in Van Persie has cooled in recent weeks after learning that Arsenal would want more than £25m for the player, who turns 29 in August.

 Once source close to the situation said: “The numbers do not add up for City. 

They are not willing to pay more than £15m on top of marquee wages.” City are aware that it would take a package worth £200,000-a-week to take Van Persie to the Etihad Stadium, a sum they would be willing to sanction, but are keen to end the overspending on transfers and salaries that accompanied their rapid rise from mid-table club to champions.

 Even if City are successful in off-loading fringe players such as Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz, Wayne Bridge and Kolo Toure from the wage bill, with the latter trio being targeted by QPR as revealed on Sunday, they will not be pushed into paying over the odds for new signings.

 Manager Roberto Mancini is ready to turn his attention to other centre-forward targets, including Napoli’s Edinson Cavani, if Arsenal refuse to budge on their valuation of the recently crowned PFA and Football Writers’ Association player of the year. 

 Van Persie, who is expected to go on a family holiday following the Netherlands' exit from Euro 2012, has refused to extend his Arsenal deal that expires in a year’s time in initial contract talks with senior officials. Nevertheless, it is increasingly likely that the Gunners captain will be at the Emirates Stadium at the start of the new Premier League season on August 18.

 The Londoners would rather let Van Persie leave for free next year than sell him for £15-20m in the summer transfer window. It means, with Barcelona and Juventus making it clear that Van Persie is not a serious target, the options for the player have seriously narrowed.

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