Van Persie: I'm happy at United

14 March 2014 09:32

Robin van Persie has moved to end speculation that he wants to leave Manchester United.

There have been rumours the Dutch international is unhappy at Old Trafford.

However, Van Persie has claimed he would be happy to sign a new deal with United. His current contract runs until summer 2016.

The striker told United Review, the club's official programme: "I don't mind if my performances get dissected and people criticise what I've done on the pitch. 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 signed a four-year contract following his £24million move from Arsenal in 2012 but stoked speculation over his future last month when he complained that his team-mates had been getting in his way during United's 2-0 defeat to Olympiacos in the Champions League.

The 30-year-old then cut a frustrated figure when being substituted against West Brom last weekend, having failed to add to his tally of 14 goals in 20 games this season.

That impressive strike-rate masks what has nevertheless been a largely troubled campaign marred by niggling injuries and a number of poor results under new manager David Moyes.

Moyes' arrival on the back of Sir Alex Ferguson's surprise exit at the end of last season has also been held up by some sections of the media as a source of Van Persie's apparent discontent, but the player insists he is thriving under the new system.

"The sessions we have on the training ground are fantastic and I'm learning a lot from them every day," said Van Persie, whose 26 league goals in an ever-present campaign were the cornerstone of United's title triumph last season.

"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.

"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. And 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. 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."

Reflecting on the recent speculation over his future, Van Persie added: " 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."

Source: PA