United wait on Van Persie reply
Arsenal striker Robin van Persie is subject to a bid from Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed Manchester United have hit a brick wall in their attempts to sign Robin van Persie from Arsenal.
Ferguson revealed on United's recent tour of South Africa United had made a bid for last season's Premier League Golden Boot winner. The Red Devils' interest seems to have fended off competition from Manchester City and Juventus.
However, Arsene Wenger has never sold a player to United. And, from Ferguson's comments to reporters following the penalty shoot-out defeat to Barcelona in Gothenburg, it doesn't appear he wants to start now. "We have made a bid and they've been trying to negotiate with other clubs," said Ferguson.
"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."
There had been rumours circulating prior to Wednesday night's game that Van Persie was heading to Manchester for a medical. It seems they were wide of the mark.
"I can't give you any more information," said Ferguson. "We just have to persevere. We are trying our best and hopefully it will come our way but there's no progress at this moment in time."
It was the second transfer blow of the day for United, who discovered prior to kick-off that Brazilian midfielder Lucas Moura had joined cash-rich Paris St-Germain. Ferguson was keen to sign the teenage midfielder from Sao Paulo and remained in Manchester at the weekend when his team headed to Norway "to do some business".
The clearest indication Moura was looking elsewhere was that Ferguson jetted out of Manchester prior to Brazil's Olympic semi-final win over South Korea on Tuesday night, when the midfielder was an unused substitute. It seems United simply could not compete with PSG's Qatari-backed spending power.
Following the huge purchases of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva, Ferguson stated the world had 'gone mad' saying: "I find it quite amazing that a club can pay 45million euros for a 19-year-old boy," said the Scot. "To tell everyone that PSG are here they've signed Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. They must have spent about £150m in the last month.
"The only deterrent to that is UEFA. In the conditions of European football, you don't qualify for Europe by winning the league or coming second - you only get in by invitation. That's where, hopefully, UEFA can have some power. When somebody's paying £45m for a 19-year-old boy you have to say the game's gone mad."
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To be honest I'm a United fan and I'm not sure I'd want him at United. Yeah ok he had a good season last year BT he's getting on in footballing terms and I could well see him becoming another Owen Hargreaves or Loius Saha at United which would make us look stupid and he'd just be raking it in whilst rubbing his hands in glee
I'd personally prefer for Fergie to be looking at a midfielder instead like Schweinsteiger or someone in that vein. Someone who can attack and defend when needed to as opposed to Moura who's gone to PSG who may well be able to attack but if anything we need help in defence when Vidic and Ferdinand are injured
Still I'm not fussed whether we get RVP or not though. He's good and all but this transfer saga is just like the Hazard one with Chelsea. Overrated
What I don't understand is why Arsene Wenger not wanting to sell his best player is him being a "spoilt child" as Stewart Pearce so "intelligently" put it. I know I've been watching a lot of the Olympics recently but did I miss a new PL rule that said if Fergie and United came sniffing around your best players you had to bend over and take it like a $10 hooker?
If United want him, stump up the money to do it, or get used to chasing City for the next 5 years. As for criticising PSG for paying £45 Mil for 19 yo Moura, how old was Rooney when he paid £25 Mil for him?
This should be a site to discuss your football opinions,not to try to get one up on rival Teams!
or thier Manager.....It would be nice to have a sensible debate about idea's of how English football can be improved...without all these negative comments ....
Chelsea are the big boys in this league??? What are you smoking, numbnuts?
Wenger surely won't allow RVP to go to Man U, he'd sooner force him to remain at Arsenal for the remainder of his contract than do that. Utd think they are allowed first refusal on ANY player they want.......and anyway, they're 700m in debt. Why havent FIFA blocked them from signing new players? Platini wants these mega-debt ridden clubs to be censured, let's start with forcing them to stop paying millions and millions of pounds that pushes them even further into the red. And that includes Chelski.
God i miss the likes of Ian Wright and Tony Adams who would have signed any deal to stay at Arsenal. Is it me or do our so called stars make you sick. What is enough money these days. The club was loyal to rvp through all his injuries many self inflicted due to his hot headed tantrums, which also resulted in suspensions. Champions leauge football and playing in the the best leauge in the world and for one of the best clubgsare not enough. I would swap him for a stuart pearce, pride, passion, commitment, loyalty are values you cannot buy. But to go to go to our direct competition is a stab in the heart. Goodbye do not let the door hit your arse on the way out. Shame on you.
Arsenal's approach is very different to United's but RvP seemed to thrive when the team was structured around him, It can't be a coincidence that he didn't truly shine until Fabregas left. I can't see that happening at Elderly Trafford and wonder if this might turn out to be another Berbatov moment. Great player who cost a fortune and never entirely fitted [although RvP does work harder which may be part of the reason for his injury record].
