Manchester United shook up the Premier League in 2012 with a stunning deal to sign Robin van Persie.
It was a deal few thought would be possible. Manchester United’s 2012 move to sign Robin van Persie was an audacious swoop on a rival club for their best player.
Free-scoring Dutchman Robin van Persie made a £24 million switch to Old Trafford, leaving behind an Arsenal side who were pretenders, competing for the top four and not the title.
Van Persie wanted to compete for trophies, and enjoyed instant success, leading Manchester United to win the 2012/13 Premier League title.
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David Gill comments on Robin van Persie deal
Former Manchester United chief executive David Gill has recently given a wide-ranging interview on his time at the club, with Van Persie among the deals discussed.
Gill explained how the Van Persie deal was a rarity, because at 29, he believed he was the oldest outfield player Manchester United paid a fee for during the Sir Alex Ferguson era.
He also shed some light on the negotiations with Arsenal, which he said were not as difficult as they could have been.
While former Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was notoriously difficult to deal with, his then Arsenal counter-part Ivan Gazidis was not at all problematic.
Instead it was Arsene Wenger who came closest to blocking the deal for Van Persie, who had only one year left on his contract.
Gill explained via Five: “Dealing with Arsenal wasn’t too bad, the player wanted to come, and his agent, that was all OK, but Arsene knew what he was losing.
“Now they get on well but at the time there were difficult relations with Alex, but in the end we got it over the line. Alex spoke to Arsenal and Arsene, and tweaked it a bit.
“It was difficult but that’s the game, clubs can’t be seen to be giving up their assets easily without a fight.
“He [Wenger] knew what he was losing and we got a great goalscorer.”
Van Persie wrote his name in history
Robin van Persie helped Manchester United win an unmatched 20th English league title, winning the Golden Boot.
It was a memorable season, which ended up being Sir Alex Ferguson‘s final one as manager. He was desperate to get the Van Persie deal done.
Losing their star striker was frustrating for Arsenal, and made even more chastening by having to give him a ‘guard of honour’ at The Emirates later that season.
No doubt many would have preferred to keep Van Persie and let him run down his contract, but Arsenal wanted the money.
For Manchester United, it was money very well spent, a fee which ended up looking like a total bargain.
Van Persie this week returned to Carrington to complete his coaching badges, and watched Manchester United’s win at Old Trafford over West Ham at the weekend.
He also met up with legendary boss Ferguson and thanked him for bringing him to the club, showing an unbreakable bond that still remains.