Speaking at a press conference after his side lost on penalties to Barcelona in a pre-season friendly, Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Manchester United will persevere in transfer negotiations for Robin van Persie, despite the obvious reluctance of Arsenal to sell to one of our biggest rivals.
It was first revealed that United had made a bid for RvP around 3 weeks ago. However, it is not known whether the Reds have made an improved offer or if Fergie is referring to the original bid. It is very clear that Arsenal want to avoid selling to United and, given that Juventus and Manchester City have both cooled their interest, it is now looking increasingly likely that the Dutchman will remain at the Emirates for another season.
The BBC are reporting that Arsenal will not enter into negotiations with United until the offer is at least £20 million, although I think that we should hold out for £25-30m, regardless of the fact that he has only 1 year on his contract. Either we receive a decent price or van Persie doesn’t move. Fergie is not used to having clubs tell him no, and I have to say that I am quite enjoying watching Arsenal hold their own.
“I can’t give you any more information. We have made a bid and they’ve been trying to negotiate with other clubs. We just have to persevere. Hopefully it will come our way. We’re trying our best but there’s no progress at this moment in time.
“I don’t have a gut feeling on it at the moment, I must admit. 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.”
This is just the kind of stubbornness that I have been waiting to see from Arsenal. No player is bigger than the club and clearly Wenger has decided that he has given in one time too many. Ever since Robin’s statement a month ago Arsenal fans have been resigned to losing our star player. I don’t think that any of us actually expected the club to put their foot down and say that enough is enough.
Bizarrely, Twitter is flooded with rumours that RvP has left Arsenal’s training camp in Germany and is on his way to negotiate a contract at Old Trafford with wage offer that would make him United’s joint highest earner with Wayne Rooney. How this could be possible if Ferguson has just said that Arsenal won’t budge I don’t know. Surely if Arsenal are refusing to negotiate with United then they wouldn’t allow him to skip pre-season training? The only way to know for sure if van Persie is still there is to have a look when Arsenal release more pre-season photos on the club website.
Given the signings of Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla, I now remain hopeful that Wenger can see this through. If we can keep hold of van Persie (and obviously lose some of the deadweight like Bendtner) then we have probably had one of the most successful summers in Arsenal’s recent history. Wenger still isn’t done. There are one or two more decent signings to come. Mark my words: Arsenal are a force to be reckoned with this season.
“We’re not getting any breakthrough with Arsenal. It’s difficult to say why they’re operating this way.”
Emmm maybe its because we want to keep our best player Fergie?! Would that not explain it!!
Ridiculous comment from Sir Alex! I think we should steadfastly refuse to sell him within the division, he stays put. We aren’t in the business anymore to subsidise other teams, enough is enough, With Cazorla and Pod signing there is no way RVP can claim we aren’t tryin to compete.
Couldn’t agree more. We have gone above and beyond this summer to prove that we are very much a club with ambition. I don’t know what other direction Robin would like us to go in? Surely we can convince him to stay.
Oh, FFS, Fergie, unclutch your pearls. you know good and well why you’re not getting anything from Arsenal. Because it’s not good business, sports or otherwise, to sell your best player to a title rival…that much should be obvious, get off the fainting couch!
Only a couple of weeks ago the senile don said “It is awful and beneath me to take transfer stories to the media”- but he did it- and now he is doing it again; whinging to the media about Arsenal not giving him the response HE wants!
Class is something he has been a stranger to since long, but now that he is finally sees his expiry date approaching by no less than his fierce City rivals, it is pathetic and sad to see how he is losing it.
Gone are the days he could double the bid of those who discovered talent like Ronaldo- or literally throw away 28 M on Veron’s et al-now others do it to him and that is a cardinal sin! He bought Bebe for 7-8 , then claimed he had never seen him play- I guess that is good management of money, unlike others.
Sad sad man, many can, but he can not see the sign “Has Been” on his face.