Robin van Persie and David De Gea report back for Man United pre-season
Robin van Persie scored 10 goals in 27 Premier League appearances for Manchester United in the 2014-15 season
David de Gea
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Dutch striker Robin van Persie will report for Manchester United training today amid reports he could complete a transfer to Fenerbahce
The 31-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Turkish side Fenerbahce at the weekend and has just a year left on his Old Trafford contract.
Despite the possibility of a transfer, Van Persie is expected to return to United’s Carrington training base today ahead of the club’s United States pre-season tour the following week.
“If Robin had found a new club, we would have announced it,” Van Persie’s agent, Kees Voss, told Voetbal International .
“All I can say that tomorrow (Monday) Robin will be back at Manchester United to report for the first training session.”
Voss refused to confirm whether he had made contact with Super Lig runners-up Fenerbahce, however.
Despite reports in Istanbul that the move to Fenerbahce was a done deal, with the Turkish club prepared to shatter their pay structure to get him, Van Persie will seek talks with manager Louis van Gaal before making a decision on his future.
He is desperate to go into next summer’s Euro 2016 at the top of his form – if Holland, currently third in their group, get their act together and qualify.
So a season being used as an impact substitute by Van Gaal is not an option for him.
United will have to come up with a big pay-off package if the move is to go ahead.
United keeper David de Gea is another player who will be back training this week, but how long he stays an Old Trafford player remains to be seen.
However, his preferred destination is not where he should go, according to a former team-mate.
Atletico Madrid fans would not forgive De Gea if he does join city rivals Real Madrid, according to former Atletico defender Tomas Ujfalusi, who played in front of De Gea in the Rojiblancos’ 2010 Europa League final win.
The Czech is surprised the Manchester United goalkeeper wants to join Real.
adamant
De Gea became an Atletico player at the age of 13 and, although he is determined to join Real, Ujfausi is adamant De Gea’s former fans would not accept a move to the Bernabeu.
“No, no, no. They are not going to forgive him, for sure,” the retired Czech Republic international said.
“It’s also a surprise for me because he’s an Atletico Madrid fan – when he was young his heart was with Atletico Madrid. It’s not going to be easy for him to make this decision.”
Ujfalusi watched De Gea develop into one of the most highly regarded young goalkeepers on the continent during his three years in Madrid.
And the Czech suggested only Manuel Neuer is a superior goalkeeper to De Gea.
“I have to say De Gea he is better than (Petr) Cech and (Thibaut) Courtois,” he continued.
“I was working with him for more than two years, and he was playing really well.”