The 31-year-old striker has ended his three-year stay
at Manchester United, moving to Turkey in a bid to guarantee first-team
football ahead of next summer's European Championship
Fenerbahce have completed the signing of Robin van Persie from Manchester United.The veteran striker moves for a fee in the region of €6 million and will join former United team-mate Nani in Istanbul.
Talks had hinged on a settlement agreement between Van Persie and United, negotiating a pay-off for the final year of his £12m-a-season contract, and he now becomes Fenerbahce’s highest paid player.
The transfer, though, marks a remarkable fall from grace for the 31-year-old, who was the Premier League’s top scorer in his maiden year at Old Trafford as his £22.5m move from Arsenal quickly yielded a 20th league title.
But injury limited him to just 21 league appearances in his second season as United toiled under David Moyes, and even a stellar World Cup campaign and reunion with Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal could not halt his slump.
Overlooked for the captain’s armband by his countryman and frequently left out of the starting XI, Van Persie netted just 10 times in all competitions last season – his second lowest tally in his 11 years in England.
Van Persie will replace a fellow Dutchman, Dirk Kuyt, at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, and joins Nani, Simon Kjaer, Josef de Souza, Fernandao and Sener Ozbayrakli in moving to Fenerbahce as the Turkish Super Lig’s impressive recruitment drive continues at pace.
Rivals Galatasaray have brought in Lukas Podolski from Arsenal, while Antalyaspor claim they are close to landing a third ex-Barcelona star to add to deals for Samuel Eto’o and Ronaldinho.
