Robin van Persie admitted it was Sir Alex Ferguson’s winning attitude that steered his transfer to Manchester United, snubbing offers from Juventus and Manchester City.. United are set for a return to the Emirates Stadium this weekend to take on Arsenal in their FA Cup third-round match, sparking some fond memories for players who played for them both – including Van Persie, who has no regrets about his move.. Signing for the Gunners in 2004, the Dutch striker defied injury issues to become a key player in north London, where he won the FA Cup and the Community Shield. In 2012, Van Persie announced he wouldn’t renew his contract with the club as he entered his final year, igniting a scramble among elite clubs – City and Juventus among them for his signature.. READ MORE: Ruben Amorim can build his dream Manchester United XI around five players. READ MORE: Manchester United fans showed their true colours with reaction to player who could be sold. Yet, when United entered the fray with a £22million bid, he was captivated by the prospect and pinpointed Ferguson as the pivotal reason for choosing Old Trafford over other destinations in what was deemed a controversial move at the time.. Speaking to Premier League Productions, Van Persie said that the famous stories of league glory and silverware-laden seasons were exciting enough to reject other top-flight teams and favour United under Ferguson’s leadership.. In 2020, he said: “Ferguson made the difference for me in my choice to choose Manchester United. Because of the way he manages, the stories I heard, because of the players that were there.. “I really wanted to win and when I look at that team of Giggs, Carrick, Scholes, Vidic, Ferdinand, they were all winners, they won it all. I was like, ‘I want to be part of that’. I was in that period of my life where I felt like a winner, but I wasn’t so I had to win. I needed to go to a team that knew how to win.”. Robin van Persie claimed it was Sir Alex Ferguson’s influence that made him sign for United (Image: ANDREW YATES/AFP via Getty Images). Following his transfer to United, the now 41-year-old achieved instant success, securing the Premier League title in his debut season with 30 goals and nine assists in all competitions.. Van Persie spent two seasons at Old Trafford after Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, adding 28 goals and six more assists to his tally. However, his form and fitness suffered greatly under David Moyes, as he battled several injuries, including knee, hamstring, and groin issues.. He made only 28 appearances in the 2013/14 season, down significantly from his 48 the previous year. Unfortunately, his performance continued to decline into the 2014/15 season.. During Louis van Gaal’s tenure, he featured in 29 games, later sharing that the blunt manager effectively ended his United career with one swift conversation. Van Persie recalled: “I had this chat with Louis van Gaal and he told me: ‘OK Robin, our ways will part. I’m the coach, you’re the player – you have to go, your time is up’.. Van Persie won his crown jewel with United – the Premier League title (Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images). “I was like: ‘Yeah, but I still have a contract?’ He said: ‘I don’t care’. Ruthless. Towards the end of it, I saw something coming but not this ruthless. And the way he said it as well. And then a lot of things go through your mind when you get a message like that. I still had a contract, my family was happy, it was my 11th year in England. We love living in England. What’s next?. “My kids are going to school, they have their friends and everything. So in a split second, all these things come across [your mind]. How do you react to that? I said: ‘We will see what happens. That’s your opinion. But I have a contract and I’m happy in England at Manchester United. So we will see what happens’. And I stood up, shook his hand and left it.”. Try MUFC Pro for FREE for our best Manchester United coverage. His departure from United under less-than-ideal circumstances following an impressive first season led Van Persie to Fenerbahce. He later returned to Old Trafford during the 2016/17 Europa League campaign.. In a match against his former club, Van Persie scored for Fenerbahce as United secured a 4-1 victory. Nonetheless, the Dutchman was met with a standing ovation from the crowd when his goal found the back of the net, a testament to the respect he earned during his time in England.. Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.
