Pierre van Hooijdonk Makes Extraordinary Claim About Man Utd Striker

The former Forest striker believes the Red Devils are secretly trying to sell Robin van Persie.

Manchester United are planning to sell striker Robin van Persie without telling him, according to former Netherland's forward, Pierre van Hooijdonk. The Independant state that the retired Dutch centre-forward has revealed that he has "received information" that the Red Devils are trying to offload the former Arsenal striker. Van Hooijdonk has sensationally claimed that the club already have plans in place to sell Van Persie but also revealed that they are negotiating behind his back. Speaking from his Voetbal International Column, Van Hooijdonk who played with Van Persie at Feyenoord, said: "As early as January of this year, I received information from Turkey about Robin and Fenerbahce. "The minute this information came, you knew that United had sent people to test the water for a move." The 31-year-old is reportedly not part of Louis van Gaal's plans for next season and with one year left on his contract it would make sense for the club to cash in on the player. "Agents and others were searching for big clubs who are prepared to pay the high fee involved for Van Persie. Robin€™s contract expires next year, so this is the moment when United can still get money for him," Van Hooijdonk continued. He added: €œVan Persie is in a difficult situation. €œTo the outside world he says he is happy to stay and I can understand this. But Robin has the feeling that United want to get rid of him. €œA big club in England, Spain or Germany is a more attractive option. Until the player realises that behind his back the two clubs have done a big deal. "That is the moment the pressure is put on. You are almost forced to go to the club where your employer has struck a deal. This is what I mean with games being played right now. €œI have a feeling that his relationship with Louis van Gaal is not as good as it was when they were both having cosy chats looking at players in the stands in Holland. €œI would advise Robin to leave United this summer. All the signals are there that the club wants to sell him. So he has to get out on time.€ It will be interesting to see where Van Persie, who scored 10 goals in 29 games last season, will end up.

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NCTJ-accredited football writer with an MA in Sports Journalism. What Culture football editor. Write for the official Newcastle United programme. Former video reporter at North News. Featured and published in the Sunderland Echo, Shields Gazette, Mail Online, The Mirror, The Sun and others.