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EPL 2012-13: Is Robin van Persie really worth £40m?

It sounds unrealistic to pay 24m for a player who is 29-years-old plus, offering him a four-year contract worth over £200,000-a-week is even more bizarre considering the players injury record in previous seasons.

Why Man United want to sign Van Persie?

Even more surprising is the fact that a club with huge financial debts have splashed the cash for potential targets trying to match and compete with their rivals.

Manchester United, on Wednesday, agreed terms with rivals Arsenal for the biggest Premier League transfer this summer of Dutch international Robin van Persie. United are believed to have paid £15m down payment while the rest will depend on appearances.

Van Persie, 29, had clearly stated he would be leaving the Emirates due to lack of ambition and future prospects. While lack of silverware with the Gunners also forced the Dutch hitman to move away from North London.

Although the striker scored 37 goals in all competition last season, his best career stats in a single season, United are willing to spend a massive £40m for the 29-year-old striker. Back in 2008, United paid £30.5m for Dimitar Berbatov who is now struggling to find suitors after being left out at Old Trafford.

However, Arsenal made good business by selling their star striker who only had a year left on his contract. But their only regret would be selling their captain to fierce Premier League rivals.

The transfer wouldn't send shock waves all over if any mega-rich club like PSG or Manchester City had put in the same offer. But this move doesn't beat the transfer of 50m man Fernando Torres and £35m striker Andy Carroll.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson recently took a dig at PSG for paying a mammoth £32m for 19-year-old Lucas Moura. United were anyways ready to shell out 25m for the young Brazilian playmaker but Fergie was amazed by the big money move and said 'the game's gone mad'.

Moreover, their list of strikers seems endless, namely Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez, Danny Welbeck, Fedrico Macheda and another new signing in 18-year-old Chilean striker Angelo Henriquez.

Perhaps Fergie should have added reinforcements in defence and midfield after suffering a humiliating 6-1 loss against rivals City and a shock 3-2 defeat to relegated side Blackburn Rovers, both at home.

But in their quest to reclaim the Premier League crown, Red Devils have been brave enough to spend nearly £50m including Shinji Kagawa and Nick Powell.

But can the Dutch powerhouse deliver the goods and live up to high standards at Old Trafford, can he win a trophy finally, only time will tell.

OneIndia News

Story first published: Tuesday, August 22, 2017, 12:27 [IST]
Other articles published on Aug 22, 2017