Robin van Persie was unveiled in front of the press with Sir Alex Ferguson this afternoon. The Dutchman was thankful to Arsenal and Arsene Wenger, insisting that there was no hard feelings. However, he reiterated how “proud” he now is to be a Manchester United player.
When asked why he opted to join Manchester United over Manchester City, Robin van Persie replied: “Everyone knows by now that I’m a lover of football. I’m quite principled in that prospect. It’s always difficult to find a perfect match but I do feel this is the perfect match for me. Man United breathe football. If you look at all players at the club, the stadium and the manager, my choice was made based on those things. When I have to make hard decisions, I always listen to little boy inside me and what he wants. That little boy was screaming for Manchester United.”
Van Persie was also asked about his new team mates, with the striker likely to play alongside Wayne Rooney for his début on Monday.
“Of course I’d love to play with Wayne,” van Persie said. “I’ve said many times before he is a world-class player all-round. When I look at players, I like to see they can adapt to everything, and he can score goals and make assists, and he works hard. Scholes and Giggs are world-class and have been proving it for 20 years now. That had a big impact, definitely. I’d like to say we are all in it together to achieve greatness. Every single player is as important.”
Man Utd News 24/7
“…the most romantic club in the history of world football, and that will never change.”
this will give Cedars morgasms! yes I shortened more and orgasms.. fuck yeah!
I love this. It’s a thinly-veiled fuck you to City.
Everyone knows who the other club was that was in for him, and for him to say ‘I’m a lover of football. I’m quite principled in that prospect’ when explaning his decision is a fucking superb demonstration to City that their cash can’t buy them class, reputation … or last season’s best player in the league!
Heard the rumour? What rumour, George? Guys, we have a problem! The boss said that new devil that’s arriving! Is he well-known? Famous around the world. What did they say about him. They say…he is a legend!
“When I have to make hard decisions, I always listen to little boy inside me and what he wants. That little boy was screaming for Manchester United.” now that’s what we love to hear!!!
RvP, he took one look at shitty and said FUCK OFF
Dear gods Scott. I am really getting a bit of virtigo.
Keep em coming son!
YES RVP!!!!! I always love how SAF picks players based on personality as well as skills… Its great seeing players speak about our history, our ethos… That’s the sort of squad we want, not in-fighting mercenary low lifes at city!
I can’t deny I hated him when he 1st came on the scene at Arsenal. Thought he was a total knob head.
The last two or three seasons changed my mind. I saw the little knob head become a good footballer, and his deadly finishing is second to none. The season he was out probably made fans forget him but he stormed back with a vengeance. If I can warm to Owen I can certainly warm to RVC.
Bring in number 20, number 20. Oh and about time we won the FA Cup.
I’vegotgoosebumps.com
This is brilliant van
You summed it well, there was no need to explain
Everyone knows why you chose man utd over the bitters
I’m not getting all emotional now…
Excellent !! gleaming inside he was !!
been so happy since this broke
(and so thankful sky sports sources ‘understood’ enough of this to’ keep me across it’ at all times,cunts.)
anyway when the prizes are won let’s talk about how we needed a cm eh? lol thank god its SAF in charge and not the sheep
Best news for years
I can not wait for the start of the season , but I am off to Cypress for a week in the sun take care come on you Reds
RvP Saying all the right stuff. Pleased that he thanks his former coaches and fans. I really do appreciate that type of class.
Robin20:20
http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/robin-van-persie-and-manager-sir-alex-ferguson-of-news-photo/150420294
Great day to be a Red. Lots of positives and lots of history on show!
Haha…
“When I have to make hard decisions, I always listen to little boy inside me and what he wants. That little boy was screaming for Manchester United.”
I didn’t know footballers could be so moving and eloquent, I almost shed a tear reading that
hahah!! great comments and a nice wee dig at city altho i suppose its easy to say “I’m a lover of football. I’m quite principled in that prospect” when yer getting a big fat £150k or so a week for the pleasure!! haha
lets do the talking on the picth Robin and get back that trophy of ours!!!
No. 20 RVP!!??!!
Brilliant article by Rob Smyth on why Tom Cleverley is going to be one of the key players for us this season: http://www.lifesapitch.co.uk/opinions/smart-money-on-cleverley-justifying-the-hype-at-man-utd/
I agree with everything that is stated in the article. He is going to be the person that links our mid-field with our quite simply tremendous attack this season. He brings that high tempo game to play and keeps harrying opponent mid-fielders and forcing them to make mistakes. That is going to be another important quality for us this season with the lack of a Fletcher in mid-field.
Wait a minute..
Its friday, and that means the Barclays premiership start tomorrow?
You spoiler robin
You overshadowed it on your own
Hopefully you lighten it up on your own too
Welcome a warmth welcome should be awaiting on monday now
this is better than SEX
RVP wearing #20. SO berba stays
Imagine Berba and RVP starting together. ANything is possible. We have 5 top class strikers now. Crazy stuff.
Daz the Bomb
Have a great time mate and make sure you sun burn your ass…..Not a great feeling trying to go to bed but it looks great in the mirror! ha ha
FletchTHEMAN – It was obvious RVP choose united over shitty for common sense reasons, and opportunity. I do not think it had anything to do with money because he is on a big contract, in his eyes he saw an opening at united, that he would most likely play more games at OT than at shitty. Has good as welbeck and herndez are, there was still a huge chance for RVP could take their spots, and if he does become a huge success I see him and rooney forming a deadly partnership and I do feel they do dove tail well. I also feel there is more creativity in the side now, than 2008 when berbatov signed. Despite my problems with the midfield, if fit, he will receive deadly service from scholes carrick cleverly kagwa valencia nani and young, that’s without adding the creativity of rooney. While I do feel the side in 2008 was a bit of a selfish side, with ronaldo a nightmare for his own teammates upfront
Haha me cleverley looked tidy
Won man of the match award and looks fitter as ever, sure he’ll
Now bring on the bitter
They will regret ever messing the scot
VanPersie saying all the right things. FERGIE could have signed him when he was feynoord (spell check) but wenger took the gamble. Another opportunity to sign him came up and the manager wasn’t going to let it slip. Obviously he’ll be paid as well as most world class players but he chose united based on footballing reasons. He wants to achieve, hopefully he’ll play his part in united elevating towards achieving their aims.
He’s a truly magnificent player, one of those players that you look at and never believe he’d actually join the club. It seems surreal for me that we’ve beaten those blue cunts to another player (henriquez and VanPersie).
The dutch tend to be artistic in everything they do and with football, they’ve rolled down brilliant players. VanPersie is another one. his style exudes confidence, belief and composure. He plays the game like the way football should be beautifully played. Forget his 37goals and bags of assists and watch his all round play. He’s skillful, imaginative and inventive, he’s a set piece taker so await a trademark fizzing curler into the top corner. His link up is already wonderful, if he hopefully gels with our own players, he’ll express even more.
He’s adaptable, flexible and interchangeable. He can play anywhere across the forward line. His signing along with the others we have made shows we’ll be playing expansive football.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6NPzZlVxjo this sums up Arsenal.
You can not buy class ,,, and when you do class becomes trash. Welldpne Robin… you SHITTY is no place for u. Its united that will make you a legend. Prepare to fill your shelves with silverware u richly deserve.
You can not buy class and when you do class becomes trash. Welldpne Robin you SHITTY is no place for u. Its united that will make you a legend. Prepare to fill your shelves with silverware u richly deserve.
Enough of RVP already whose next
Yesterday I wrote that MANCHESTER UNITED are a passion. Today I’m going to add another……………
MANCHESTER UNITED is a romantic football club !!!!
By all means MANCHESTER UNITED where my first love !!!!
Anyway welcome home LITTLE BOY !!!!!
Gotze and naymar obviously
Yeah that’s really one in the face for City,only whores go their,disgusting club
Balaji Sivaraman – I totally agree with that article, even though smyth’s prediction for this season went to borderline ridiculousness, not like 2006, when he forgot in their prime there was a spine of VDS ferdinand vidic scholes carrick fletcher ronaldo rooney as a spine. No doubt it was the best spine in Europe. But young tom is for me is a top 4 united player, in terms of the cog of the squad. He is united’s joint second most crucial player behind vidic. If we keep DDG ferdinand vidic cleverly carrick rooney fit for 80% of games, I think we will win the league
I do not understand all the hate for Arsenal? They have always been worthy rivals, proper club with proper history.
Want a club to hate? Just look across the road in Manchester, or much better still have a look for a certain club in Yorkshire
Balaji
You beauty, what great article that was
Great find mate
Tom will blossom right after my eyes
He’s such an incredible human being
Great footballer
And all that can only be found at the greatest club on planet
He’s down to earth
Glad that the transfer has completed!!! Thought this one would go right down till the last day as Berba’s transfer.
This has to be our biggest Transfer in recent times. Look at the reaction. Great piece of business by United.
My brain approves it before my fingers
Bloody typos
That’s the result of writing while excited
i hope the little boy tells him to score 30+ goals and a hatrick against man shittY.. welcome boy..
Sister Sara! The little man in me is screaming!
Robin Van Persie °RVP° Full Presentation Manchester United Contract Signing | HD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwdtVvkIDL0
Enjoy
L8ters guys
Its always a joy reading ROM
The best blog around
Cheers!
RVP is the leagues MVP at £24m….bargain
Its a good day !
FITB @ 15:36: “young tom is for me is a top 4 united player, in terms of the cog of the squad.”
I wouldn’t go that far – he’s more likely the back-up to Michael Carrick BUT that’s an important piece of the puzzle since, in my opinion, MIchael Carrick is the single most irreplaceable member of the first team. The interesting issue is going to be – how often will YoungTom play in a 2-man midfield with MIchael Carrick or is SAF’s determination to turn attack into the key form of defence going to result in some version of a 4-1-4-1 (or whatever, with just one “defensive shield”).
More than any of the UTD midfielders NOT called Scholes, YoungTom has that quick turn/pass that characterizes the play of Iniesta/Pirlo AND that is very high praise. Still and all, right now YoungTom’s more potential than realized ability. BUT the fact that SAF seems to have almost-unlimited confidence in “the boy” is most reassuring.
How low do the Citeh PR Dept go . Rodney Marsh yep that Rodney Marsh im a celeb get me outa here And Come dine with me !!! Tells the BBC its an act of desperation SAF signing RvP ??? As the new kid on the block Bobby Manc threatens to shift the balance of power ! He did grudgingly say it was a superb effort by SAF to get within i game of the title .
I hope he finds his words sweet because he will eat them this season .
Haha
Had to comeback for expressing my sentiments
” Lol @50 shades”
Sara has left the blog for now
You were a tidy late.
@JT – you read my mind
perfect example … new devil arrived
Manchester United breathe football
Oh my this season will be one to remember
19
@Denton
Don’t forget that our best CM pairing at the start of last season didn’t involve Michael Carrick.
If Clev and Ando can stay fit, expect Carrick to get some much-needed rest in the slightly easier games where the back 4 don’t need so much protection.
Welcome to our club RvP, proud to have you here. ,As with your other country men before you .Make us even greater .Cover yourself in glory . Manchester is Truly RED .
For Monday.
DDG
Rafael Rio Vida Evra
Carrick Clevs
Valencia Rooney Kagawa
RvP. Sexy fusbol
911 – Of course shes left.
WILL PEOPLE STOP DROPPING NANI FROM THEIR DEFAULT XI?!?!
Ooops, new thread!
Nani is out of my team until he perfects the moonwalk. Deal with it.
@WRN
Well, he needs to get booked first before he can do that:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/video/2012/may/08/footballer-moonwalks-protest-booking-video?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3486
@ Bilaji- Thanks for the article link. A great read.
I agree with Rob Smyth’s article about Cleverley being potentially our second most important player behind Vidic.
With all the tinsel news around RVP and Shingawa – all of it justified btw – it’s easy to forget both Vidic and Cleverley coming back.
I can understand why SAF was holding off buying a CM. He’s got Cleverley back. I think his one of the first names down on the team sheet in the CM role. The lad can be the cog between defence and attack. What I love about him is his character and always wanting the ball and crisply making his passes count. I think if he has a good season then United will get Number 20.
” I always listen to little boy inside me and what he wants. That little boy was screaming for Manchester United.”
Is that right, Robin? Before money became an issue the little boy in you was an Arsenal supporter.
The proof is in the pudding:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27453474@N02/6779866816/
Kanchelskis –
http://cantheyscore.com/2012/08/17/new-videos-robin-van-persie-interview-and-press-conference/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CanTheyScore+%28Can+They+Score%3F%29
Tim posted this on a earlier thread quote from Souness,i respect the Gunners more than any other rival but the sad fact is become a feeder club and just happy with top 4,RVP figured this out
SOUNESS: The reality is players only see it one way. Top players want two things – the going rate and trophies, because they know their time in football is short.
Van Persie thought, ‘This group of players can’t win things’. And I don’t think he was wrong. He wants the Champions League and the Premier League. And if you can double your wages elsewhere, then that’s the world we now live in.
It would be great if players could say, ‘I’m going to be loyal because this club have made me what I am’. But that’s just not the reality any more.
Landing RvP and Kagawa for less than £40mill is great business by Fergie. We spent more last year, but that included a keeper and a defender. We’re sending a clear message to our rivals. You just hope we can stay clear of major injuries. You’re always gonna pick up little niggles here and there. I’m looking for Fergie to limit the changes this season. Too much chopping and changing last time. Cost us dearly in Europe, all that messing about with the team. That being said, I still hope Welbeck and Hernandez get their chance. No doubting where United’s strengths are. In the attacking front, we’re really spoiled for choice. Getting the combinations right, will be the bosses biggest challenge. It’s exciting for us fans. Bring it on!
yes read an article this morning someone figured if Kagawa had known Utd were going to sign RVP he wouldn’t have signed,seems to me though he’s out to prove himself,on a mission so to speak
Robin Van Persie – First Exclusive Manchester United Interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvEANsBUv7c&feature=player_embedded#!
Kanchelskis @ 15:59: “Don’t forget that our best CM pairing at the start of last season didn’t involve Michael Carrick.”
True that.
Which leads to me wondering – how good would UTD’s second-team be ? So, let’s line them up in a 4-3-3 with SirRyanGiggs played out-of-position at left back:
Lindegaard, Smalling, Evans, Jones, Giggs, Scholes, Cleverley, Anderson, Young, Welbeck, Chicharito
I reckon that that team would finish around 10th-12th – behind Newcastle/Everton/LiverPoo/Fulham fighting it out with Sunderland, West Brom, Stoke, Aston Villa but ahead of Southampton, Swansea, Wigan, West Ham, Norwich, QPR.
Any comments ?
WillieRedNut @ 16:41: “We’re sending a clear message to our rivals. You just hope we can stay clear of major injuries.”
Injuries are the big unknown. They screwed TheLads right-royally last year; maybe it’s someone else’s turn to miss their Captain/Key Defender and Midfield Dynamo – hint ! hint !
I hope Cedars hasn’t run out of tissues.
Denton Davey – that is probably true, but when united played their best footie last season, it did involve cleverly. But we look at the central options
carrick scholes cleverly fletcher powell anderson giggs
would I call kagwa an out an out central player? not quiet. I think both tom and carrick are vital for the squad, as scholes does start to see wear and tear in the final 30 mins of games these days, but cleverly I do feel he is more mobile, and his ability to play under big pressure when sides press teams. And I do feel his passing game is more impressive than carricks, and tom does have this scholes esque control about him, when he has the ball
Denton Davey – that second string side is easily a top 7 side, and better than Liverpool’s first 11, amd I being to arrogant there?
Wayne I appreciate all of that. If you want my full thoughts on the matter I wrote two long posts on it in the RvP training picture thread a few stories down.
A quick reply to yours though would be that Arsenal were a feeder club content with 4th place when he was photographed wearing a number 1 fan shirt too.
What I really think would be great is if a player could be honest and say, “I’m looking for a new challenge with a team that I believe is better suited for silverware, but primarily I’m interested in the doubling of my wages, I mean who wouldn’t be?”
That would be honest and refreshing, and I would applaud him for telling the truth.
And while you’re quick to cite RvP carrying the team last season, well there were 7 seasons before that one where the team could have done with a little help in crucial points of the season where he was consistently injured. He only became Robin van Worldbeater this season. Think about it, Arsenal have sold their best player like 8 seasons running and they’re only now getting around to selling RvP ; )
But seriously, to come out and publicly bash a club which has supported you through thick and thin and made you its captain in order to engineer a move is disgraceful any way you slice it. A true professional under contract for another year of the club that he captains would let all negotiations go on behind closed doors and honor the last year of the contract he signed and go on a free next season if that was in fact the situation.
Personally I tend to believe Arsenal were never going to re-sign him. Maybe I’m wrong. Who knows? Reports suggest that Arsenal never actually offered him a contract and that Wenger told RvP last week that he wasn’t in his plans after RvP was considering staying. Again, who knows?
But Arsenal going out guns blazing and signing three excellent, established players doesn’t seem like normal business so I would think that it was a foregone conclusion he was leaving all along.
Any way you slice it though, the manner in which he left is puzzling. That was a scathing letter he wrote which to me seems incredibly unnecessary. If the club weren’t going to re-sign him, then ok, move along. If he wouldn’t sign, then ok, move along. If the club wanted him to play out his contract before going on a free, then it’s his obligation as captain and employee to do so. I just don’t get the letter. An inexplicable stab in the back on the way out.
But such is the modern game. Every club has them. Arsenal more than most because a lot of the players they get engineer moves from their former clubs to get to the wages and prestige of Arsenal. Then they use Arsenal as a springboard to the rich clubs.
There are a rare few loyal players, and your club seems to have had more of them in recent years than most which I believe is a big part of your success.
You’re right, Arsenal have become a feeder club. The sad part about it for the game as a whole though is that Arsenal are what, the 6th or 7th best team in the world, at worst? And they’ve consistently been there, just unable to crack that top group. They’re now the 4th most valuable.
Arsenal are a business shark taking advantage of the same system that Wenger is always bitching about. The Arsenal support suffers as a result. The game as a whole suffers because too many good players are consolidated into a few teams, denying the rest of the teams and the public at large of their talents. Berbatov, for example. A man of his talent shouldn’t be rotting on the bench. The City list is too long to mention. All that wasted talent.
I think the arms race among the big clubs is getting far out of control and van Persie and his letter just exemplified all of it.
And don’t take this as an attack on United. Every club pounces on these sorts of situations. As I said, Arsenal can’t be too upset because the same thing happens with players they sign from other clubs, but the degree of RvP’s scorn towards Arsenal is what really rubbed me the wrong way here.
Cedars Someone on Facebook wants you to adopt Messi. He might join United as well because of your good luck charm
Tim i didn’t cite RVP
something odd happened thing just refreshed and posted,anyway Tim i didn’t cite RVP carrying the team last year but you’re a little out as well mate,RVP has been a force for the last 4 seasons not just one,seen a lot of Gunners talk about carrying him through 7yrs for 1 good one,that’s not true mate
Don’t understand why RVP turned on the Gunners so quick and made those statements betrayal would be a good word,all i can think he wanted a quick exit and that was the only way to get Wenger’s attention,your boss has a tendency to be stubborn and drag things out
Anyway considering the amount of money it cost’s now to buy anyone Utd having a 1/2 tandem of Rooney/RVP has to be the best strike force in the world,if that had been a Utd player dishing the club i’d be pissed as well mate
Good luck in the season hope Gunners finish 2nd
Soon enough, rival teams in training sessions:
Players: “So, who’re we playing this weekend, Boss ?”
Manager: “United…”
Players: “Oh man…any guesses as to the First XI ?”
Manager: “RvP, Rooney, Kagawa, Fletcher, Vidic…”
Players: “No need to name the rest of the line up, boss, we’re fucked anyways !!!”
@Tim
I don’t think RvP mean it that he has always supported United when he said the little boy in him said so. See the question he was asked. The context of it is that he has already decided to leave & there were only 2 choices. United & City. So between this 2, the little boy in him shouted United
Duncan Drasdo, chief executive of MUST said: “It’s really exciting news for us as United fans to see a top quality player, in Robin van Persie, sign for Manchester United. Of course we have always backed Sir Alex Ferguson’s exceptional management skills to the hilt so this is great news for our members and Manchester United fans around the world.”
“Robin van Persie is quoted today as saying ‘Manchester United breathes football. This club is the perfect match for me’ . That is exactly how we feel as supporters too. We live and breath Manchester United with a passion. We support the team and defend the club through thick and thin. We are looking forward now hoping for a spectacular start to the season at Everton on Monday night and perhaps a debut goal for RVP would be the icing on the cake.”
Always backed Sir Alex ?? Really ?? Fuckin’ bunch of liars !!!
Here’s an EXCLUSIVE video of Van Persie’s little boy screaming:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1hvKYOnhLQ
To be honest, you’re deluding yourself if you’re thinking Van Persie chose United over any other club – it’s clear he would have gone to Juventus if they could have fronted up the money to pay the transfer fee to Arsenal. But they couldn’t and their manager is banned for 10 months.
Other than that, United are the only other team that bid for him.
Rohit- 17:38. Just what I was thinking
I respect arsenal . True club with great history. Hard fir the fans right now but if they dont bounce back and end up a mid table team it would , in my opinion be a travesty .
Good luck for next seSon gunners just not against us.
hey fellas, completely ecstatic w this signing, gonna be a huge psych boost to the squad, oh and goals
now a favour if you don’t mind …
in the photo his kicks are cut off (maybe to divert attention from his ankles) … but here:
http://www.redforcerising.net/2012/08/18/rvp-20-pics-vids-of-robin-van-persies-transfer-to-man-utd/
they have on the 4th photo the decent shoes …
does anyone know what they are ‘cos I think they’re sweet.
cheers boys and Onward #20 !!!!!
Gotta echo what Redbilly said there. I’d much rather be challenging Arsenal or Liverpool for the title than these plastic blue teams that just got fast-tracked via cash injections.
I just wanted to say: good luck to you (fans of MUFC) and RVP. Lord knows where we’d have finished last season had it not been for his goals. You have acquired a truly magnificent footballer and while I’m sad he’s gone, I do understand why he’s gone and I’m glad he chose a proper club to play for.
One day, we’ll be back up there challenging you lot again.
All the best- looking forward to an interesting season.
goonsquad – wrong. Watch the interviews, Van Persie chose United over City.
i still want a fukking midfielder. ps when will fergie put berba out of his misery???
Haha happy he never signed for man SHITY LOL -_-
i heard alex song is leaving arsenal for barcà
Well said Gooner, appreciate your response to the move and very refreshing to hear, Im not sure I’d be so charitable in the same situation hah. I consider Arsenal to be one of the few top teams (besides United of course) who go about business the right way and have always enjoyed the rivalry. Respect.