Robin van Persie has moved to clarify rumours about his future by declaring his desire to remain with Manchester United.
Van Persie endured a fairytale debut season at Old Trafford but this campaign has not gone as well as the Dutchman would have liked with injury curtailing his involvement.
It has been reported that Van Persie feels let down by Sir Alex Ferguson’s sudden retirement, while he is also believed to be unhappy with David Moyes’ training methods, leading to suggestions that he could be on his way out of the club in the summer.
However, the striker insists he is happy at United and is hoping to follow in Wayne Rooney’s footsteps by signing a new deal with the Premier League champions.
“I don’t mind if my performances get dissected and people criticise what I’ve done on the pitch,” van Persie wrote in Manchester United’s official matchday programme United Review.
“They can talk about my game 24/7 for all I care… and a lot of those opinions and criticisms may actually be right. So I don’t mind that.
“What I need to address are the situations when people are taking it upon themselves to think for me, make assumptions, or interpret things as if they are me. Last time I checked my head was still attached to my body, so I’m the only one who knows exactly what I’m feeling and that is not what I or the fans have been reading.
“The truth is I’m very happy here at this club. I signed for four years and I’d be delighted to stay even longer, beyond the next two years I have left on my contract. This is how I feel, although it’s not what has been suggested in the media.”
Van Persie went on to refute rumours about his relationship with his team-mates and manager.
“I’m very happy with my team-mates and I’m very happy with my manager and his staff. The sessions we have on the training ground are fantastic and I’m learning a lot from them every day. I’ve been a professional footballer for 12 years now and there’s no doubt I’m learning new things and progressing with David Moyes,” he said.
“Like I said, talk about my performances or talk about a tackle that was too late. I don’t mind. But it goes too far when people start suggesting, amongst other things, that I have a bad understanding with the manager. That’s not true at all.
“Over the last few years I’ve started to look more closely at the way coaches work to learn from them – not just here at the club but with the international team as well. I’ve worked with some brilliant coaches and I’ve taken a real interest in all the methods they use and the choices they make.
“I can tell you that Moyes’ sessions and the things he says in his team meetings are spot-on. I really enjoy working under him and I’m absolutely convinced things will pick up and we’ll turn it around.
“There is mutual respect between us and the work environment is actually good. He really wants things to work here at Manchester United and I want the same, just like the other players. We’re all working hard to make this work.”
