Robin van Persie tasted sweet success upon arriving at Manchester United in 2012, but things have gone sour for him in less than three years.
Manchester United will try to sell van Persie during the summer 2015 transfer window, the Mirror reported Monday.
Van Persie is falling from the peaks of his first season at Manchester United, when he scored 30 goals and led the Red Devils to the Premier League summit. Injuries and loss of form have hindered van Persie over the last two seasons, and the veteran striker’s Old Trafford career could be coming to a close.
“Manager (Louis) Van Gaal is said to be ready to ditch his fellow Dutchman, with the Old Trafford giants willing to listen to offers for the 31-year-old forward,” the Mirror claims. “With just one more full season left on his contract, United have made no moves to extend Van Persie’s deal by a further 12 months, with a view to a summer sale.”
Van Persie has scored 10 goals in 26 games in all competitions this season. But he has missed Manchester United’s last five games because of an ankle injury, and the Red Devils have been on a fine winning run without him. Van Gaal has deployed Wayne Rooney in his favored center forward’s role in van Persie’s absence, and many expect the Manchester United captain to remain in his post when his teammate returns from injury.
Van Persie is one of Manchester United’s highest earners, and selling him would would represent a sound business decision if he remains on the outskirts of the starting lineup. Van Persie turns 32 in August, and there is doubt whether he can return to the heights of a few years ago.
Manchester United paid £24 million ($35.5 million) to sign van Persie from Arsenal in 2012. It remains to be seen how much of that fee Manchester United could recoup this summer.
Inter Milan and Juventus are interested in signing van Persie this summer, according to the Mail. Barcelona, PSG and Real Madrid also could be in the market for a striker this summer, broadening the list of potential suitors for van Persie.
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