The back page of the Mirror on Thursday has a classic, punchy tabloid headline: “Manchester United transfer shock – Van Persie sold in secret”.
Almost as quickly as readers consumed the headline, it becomes quickly apparent that Robin van Persie has not yet actually been sold by the Red Devils.
Instead, the tabloid report that the Dutch striker is being “kept in [the] dark” with regard to the club’s transfer negotiations to offload the 31-year-old centre-forward.
The Mirror couch their report in claims from Pierre van Hooijdonk, who has said:
Van Persie is in a difficult situation. To the outside world he says he is happy to stay and I can understand this. But Robin has the feeling that United want to get rid of him.
I would advise Robin to leave United this summer. All the signals are there that the club wants to sell him. So he has to get out on time.
Looking more widely at Van Persie’s situation, the Dutchman’s fallen behind in the pecking order under Louis van Gaal, and his situation was exacerbated towards the end of the season when he was relieved of penalty duties.
Having shown signs of rapid decline last season – scoring just 10 league goals – and having failed to really show boss Louis van Gaal that he’s still a long-term option, several clubs from around Europe have expressed an interest in signing him.
Juventus, Roma and Lazio have all been linked with a move for Van Persie, while Fenerbahce, who are mentioned on the back page of the Mirror, currently look like favourites to sign the striker.
Robin van Persie has one year left of his current Man United contract.
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