Former Manchester United striker Robin van Persie, now with Fenerbahce, is really excited that his current team is in the same Europa League grouping as his former team. He’s looking forward to the chance to face off against his former mates. The two sides will meet tonight in the group stages of the Europa League.
There will be some tension, and you can be sure that RVP will be the top storyline.
I’m looking for that to be overshadowed though by a dominating performance from United; who are heavy favorites in this match. If you’re looking to wager on this contest, here’s a link to a Paddy Power free £30 bet. The Irish sports books sizes up the match with the following odds: Man United win 8/15, Draw 3/1, and Fenerbahce win 6/1. They seem to expect a big win by the Red Devils, and I feel the same way.
It appears the Red Devils will have the last laugh on RVP. Prediction: United 3, Fenerbahce 0
ESPN FC chronicled Van Persie’s reaction to finding out he would come up against his old mates: “We followed the draw when we were in the coach, on the way to an away match,” Van Persie said. “We first heard that we were drawn with Manchester United, which was already amazing for me. Feyenoord coming out as the third team was absolutely brilliant.”
And now today Robin van Persie revealed what led up to his departure from Old Trafford, where he was United’s player of the year in 2012-13 when the Red Devils last won the Premier League title.
Then Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement at the end of that season and it started the chain of events that led to Van Persie leaving United. He struggled in form under the next two managers, David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.
Also, his friendship with Van Gaal, his fellow Dutchman, turned frosty. However, it was the end of the Sir Alex era that led to RVP’s move away.
More on Robin van Persie, and what led to his departure via the Guardian:
When asked if he felt he would still be at United had Ferguson stayed on, Van Persie said: “We will never know. It could have been that I could have been a player for Manchester United today.
“When I signed that was the idea, that Sir Alex would stay on for a few more years, but in football things change, you can’t plan your own path or your coach’s path. In this world you have to deal with how it comes.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
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