Robin van Persie

By Chris,
January 22 2012

Ahead of Sunday’s big game at Arsenal, Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Manchester United nearly signed free-scoring Gunners frontman Robin van Persie. The Red Devils boss travelled to the Netherlands to watch van Persie play for Feyenoord’s second-string, but the player eventually ended up at Arsenal.

Ferguson, who has labelled van Persie a “terrific player” in the build-up to Sunday’s game, once travelled to watch the forward play for Feyenoord’s second XI.

The Dutch international moved to Arsenal in 2004 for a fee of £2.75million, and Sir Alex accepts that United did not “see enough” of the player to make a decision regarding a move.

He said: "I remember going to see van Persie play for Feyenoord reserves way, way back.

"We were definitely interested, but the day we went to see him he didn’t play the full game.

"He was either sent off or he walked off, I can’t remember which. We ended up leaving it, we didn’t make a move for him”.

Van Persie has been on sensational form for Arsenal this season, and currently leads the race for the Premier League golden boot with 18 strikes.