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Van Persie: I always wanted United move over Manchester City

by Tom Parker

One was [Manchester] City and the other one was Juventus. So it was a bit hectic but I always wanted this transfer from day one. Me and Sir Alex knew that it would be a bumpy road, but I think that it shows that if you really want something then nothing is impossible. I am glad it happened.” Robin van Persie 

Robin van Persie has revealed that despite interest from Manchester City and Juventus, he always wanted to make the move to Manchester United last summer.

The 29-year-old had a brilliant first season at Old Trafford scoring 30 goals and picked up the Golden Boot en route to securing his first Premier League title with United but leaving Arsenal wasn’t an easy process.

In an interview with MUTV, van Persie admitted that Arsenal’s directors made his transfer away from the Emirates a drawn out affair.

“It was [difficult] because it wasn’t only me who decided where I went to play,” said van Persie.

“I also depended on my former club as well and how they saw it. And then of course you always have these games that the directors play.

“It’s a bit like a rollercoaster. Some days it is looking good and other days it is worse. You don’t really know what to expect because things can change so quickly. It normally depends on the player and the two teams, but in my case, there were two other teams involved as well.

“One was [Manchester] City and the other one was Juventus. So it was a bit hectic but I always wanted this transfer from day one. Me and Sir Alex knew that it would be a bumpy road, but I think that it shows that if you really want something then nothing is impossible. I am glad it happened.”

Van Persie, who’s 26 league goals fired United to a record 20th Premier League title, was happy to reminisce over a very successful debut campaign at Old Trafford in Sir Alex Ferguson’s last year in charge.

But he insisted the end of the Ferguson era need not coincide with the club not competing for honours and that creating a new era under former Everton boss David Moyes would only make the players more hungry for success.

“It has only been a year but it has been a year of incredible impact on me which has meant so much. I am proud to have been able to work with him.” Robin van Persie

In an interview with Sky Sports, van Persie said: “It has made such an impact on me that I couldn’t see coming before I signed [playing under Ferguson].

“He made it even more special than I thought it would be. Not only by his skills as a manager but by the way he is as a person, the way he works with his players and the honesty and the winning mentality. The word winning came along so many times in his meetings.

“It has only been a year but it has been a year of incredible impact on me which has meant so much. I am proud to have been able to work with him.”

“I always thought he was a winner. If you are a winner and want to achieve things you sometimes have to be direct and tell the truth where it is needed but that is the way to win and so I wasn’t surprised about him.

“But when you see him from an outside point of view you maybe see 20 per cent of Sir Alex. You see him on the touchline. You see him shouting at the referee, you see him wanting to win.

“That is your picture of him in that moment. But we saw him every day. You see him chatting with the boys, you see him in meetings and how he works.

“He is a man who puts his arm around you if you are having a hard time. He gives you confidence. He always defends you towards the outside world. He will always defend his players.

“We are lucky to have seen what most people cannot see. He is one of the best managers in the world, maybe the best and one of the friendliest people I have met in my life and that tells you the whole story about him.”

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