Sir Alex Ferguson said today the arrival of Robin van Persie from Arsenal will make Manchester United’s strikeforce as strong as the one that fired the club to a historic Treble in 1999.
Van Persie was in Manchester this afternoon for a medical and to finalise personal terms on a four-year contract worth £200,000-a-week after the clubs agreed an initial payment in the region of £20m with add-ons potentially increasing the price to £24m.
Ferguson expects Van Persie to be available to make his debut away to Everton on Monday and is thrilled at the prospect of teaming him up with England striker Wayne Rooney.
Given the other options he has up front, Ferguson drew comparisons to the 1998-99 season when Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke scored 53 goals on their way to the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup, reinforced by Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie are two fantastic players and it will be great to have both of them,” said the United manager.
“It gives us more strength and more combinations up front. In 1999 I had Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the four best strikers in Europe. We are going towards that now with Javier Hernandez, Wayne Rooney, Robin, Danny Welbeck and Shinji Kagawa. It is a fantastic collection of players and hopefully I pick the right combinations
“It is great to have a player of Robin van Persie’s qualities to come into the squad. I am very pleased.”
Van Persie’s signing is central to Ferguson’s bid to regain the title from Manchester City, having lost it in dramatic fashion in the closing minutes of last season. Two goals in injury-time gave City a 3-2 win over Queens Park Rangers and saw them snatch the title on goal difference.
“Last season was disappointing because we didn’t win the League,” said Ferguson. “Now it is about how we come back. We have shown in the past the mentality of the club and its history is that we always come back stronger.
“We want to give the fans what they expect and be battling at the top of the League. The gauntlet has been thrown down time and time again. It is up to us to pull in the right direction. We have to step up to the plate. I’m sure we will.”
