The Premier League’s top scorer says playing with Rooney was why he joined United…
Manchester United star Robin Van Persie has pleaded with his club strike partner Wayne Rooney to stay at the club, reports The Sun.
The Dutchman, widely regarded as the best striker in the country, is desperate for the England man to stay at Old Trafford.
“Everyone wants Wayne to stay and, deep down, I think he feels the same. One of the reasons I joined Manchester United was to play with Wayne,” said Van Persie, who scored 26 league goals in his first season at United.
“He is quality on and off the pitch. I hope he stays. Not only is he a great goalscorer, he does so much work across the pitch.”
Ironically, it is Van Persie’s presence at United that has partly signalled Rooney’s intention to leave. The Dutchman has been used as the no.1 goal threat, spearheading the attack – with Rooney often played in a more withdrawn role. New manager David Moyes infamously said that the England man was a backup to Van Persie, which left Rooney ‘angry and confused’.
“Overall my thought on Wayne is that if for any reason we get an injury to Robin Van Persie we are going to need him,” said Moyes, in what was unarguably his biggest blunder since arriving at Old Trafford.
Despite this, Van Persie believes Rooney will see sense, and eventually commit his future to the English champions once more.
“I am not surprised other teams want him. He hates to lose — that’s why you see him one minute pressing for a goal, the next defending ferociously. He is an asset to any team.”
“He will come good again. He is a strong lad,” added the hitman.
Rooney has scored 197 times for United, and 36 times for England, in what has already been a glittering career. If he departs United for Chelsea, the Premier League title could be heading in a similar direction.
COMMENTS