Arsenal confident of deflecting Juventus interest in Robin van Persie
• Holland international out of contract in summer 2013
• Van Persie to discuss future with Arsenal at end of season
by Dominic Fifield 1 year ago

Arsenal are confident Juventus's desire to sign Robin van Persie this summer will be deflected after the Italian champions became the first club publicly to express an interest in securing the Holland international's services at the end of the season.

Van Persie, recently named the Professional Footballers' Association and Football Writers' player of the year, will discuss his future with Arsène Wenger and the Arsenal chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, after the conclusion of the campaign. The Dutchman is out of contract in the summer of 2013 and, although he is not agitating for a move, is expected to be offered a four-year contract to remain at the Emirates, a deal that would break the club's current wage structure and include a substantial signing-on fee as Arsenal seek to ensure he does not depart for nothing under the Bosman ruling next summer.

A number of major clubs across Europe, including Real Madrid and Barcelona, have been monitoring Van Persie's situation and could test Arsenal's resolve to hold the 28-year-old striker to the final year of his contract this summer. Juventus, who would also expect to compete with Paris St-Germain, Milan and Internazionale, have expressed their admiration for the forward. Giuseppe Marotta, Juve's general director, told the Italian website calciomercato.com: "Van Persie is a great player. He is a complete player and would be useful to any team. But he still has one year left on his contract with Arsenal. We will try to put the icing on the cake this summer but the important thing is that the mix is good."

Van Persie, who has 30 Premier League goals this term, is not thought to be keen on moving to Italy, with his instinct to remain at Arsenal for at least one more season, encouraged as he has been by the signing of Lukas Podolski from Köln for £10.9m, with the promise of further ambitious transfers to come. Only the tantalising offer of a potential move to either Real or Barça would test that commitment though, even then, the London club would need to sanction any departure given the player remains under contract. That, at present, seems unlikely, with Wenger apparently under no pressure from on high to sell even if Van Persie does not seek to sign new terms at the Emirates stadium.

The Arsenal manager and Gazidis intend to speak with Van Persie before the start of Euro 2012 – the Holland squad begin their preparations for the tournament late next week – as they continue to plan for next season in the hope that Champions League football will be secured in Sunday's final match at West Bromwich Albion. Interest is retained in the Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila, though a deal has yet to be agreed with the French club and the player, who has also been courted by Inter. The France international would cost in the region of £17.7m.

Related articles
Rafael Benítez will be our new manager, claims Napoli president 1 day ago
Arsenal want trophies not just top four next season, says Ivan Gazidis 5 days ago
Italy cries foul over penalty that helped Milan into Champions League 5 days ago
Arsenal's Theo Walcott curbed but Laurent Koscielny finds vital space 6 days ago
Arsenal dance on pitch but still look out of step against Newcastle 6 days ago

More from
ArsenalJuventusSerie A
Share your thoughts
Sign in to comment
Trending articles
Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Bayern Munich: Player ratings
Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich: Champions League final – live!
Bayern Munich's Jupp Heynckes: 'We have achieved something unique'
How Germany went from bust to boom on the talent production line
Manchester City beat Chelsea and plant a flag at New York's Yankee Stadium
Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben nets winner against Borussia Dortmund
Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund: Tactical analysis
Manchester United's David Moyes considers move for Marouane Fellaini
At the last, the Bayern Munich steamroller rumbles over the line
Borussia Dortmund's underdogs go down biting against Bayern Munich
Rafael Benítez will be our new manager, claims Napoli president
Said & Done
Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund divide opinion in Germany
Rioting, violence and shame – memories of Ireland v England in 1995
Hibernian's Kevin Thomson hopes cup final against Celtic ends bad luck
How Phil and Gary Neville embrace the Woody Allen route to management
  • my footytube
  •    
    Kick4Life - changing lives through football