For better or worse, the career of a footballer can be directly influenced by the choices that he makes off the field. Alan Shearer chose Newcastle United over Manchester United, this won him hero status with the Geordies but no silverware. Didier Drogba chose to leave his beloved Marseille for Chelsea and his decision was rewarded with Champions League and Premier League glory.
The list of these choices, both right and wrong, is endless. Now, Robin van Persie has a choice to make.
After months of speculation, it was on July 4th of this year that van Persie announced that he would not be signing a new contract with Arsenal. It was his intention to leave the club. In truth this gives Arsenal a choice of their own to make, get one more season out of their talismanic striker and allow him to leave for nothing next summer or cash in now. But this isn’t about Arsenal, it’s about RVP and what he will chose to do next.
Juventus
It appears that Robin van Persie wants to leave Arsenal, but only he knows how far he really wants to go. It has been reported that van Persie’s family are settled in England and this could scupper a move to reigning Italian champions Juventus. But if his family can be tempted to up sticks and leave the UK then Serie A could pose an interesting new challenge for him.
RVP has never played in Italy and would probably welcome the chance to add a Serie A title to his resume and Juve would certainly give him an opportunity to do that. While some of their nearest rivals have been weakened by high profile exits, Juve have thus far maintained and could vastly improve by adding van Persie to their ranks. Juve and Italy could be an option, although it will help if RVP isn’t too attached to the attacking brand of football he plays in England currently.
Manchester City
One of RVP’s main gripes with Arsenal seems to be their lack of spending power or perceived lack of ambition. This is not a criticism he could level at Roberto Mancini’s Man City. The current Premier League champions are likely to be even stronger next season and van Persie would welcome the chance to challenge for major silverware with this team of ‘Galacticos’.
But playing with this kind of talent creates its own problems.
There is no doubt that RVP is the main man at Arsenal. His 30 Premier League goals last season seemingly carried Arsenal to 3rd place in the league and he is used to being the focal point of what is a very attack minded team. At City he would be one piece of a much bigger picture.
With the likes of Sergio Agüero, Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli already at the club, van Persie may need to settle with playing out wide rather than his preferred role as a lone centre forward. Or, dare I say it, he may even have to contend with having a place on the bench.
Going from all conquering hero and captain to ‘squad player’ and ‘rotation option’ would take some serious adjustment for the Dutchman.
Manchester United
It may be a slight understatement to say that Sir Alex Ferguson isn’t going to take coming second best to rivals Man City lying down. Signing RVP would be exactly the statement of intent that United need to launch their bid to reclaim the title this season. But, just as much as I’m sure Sir Alex would like to add van Persie to his team, no doubt van Persie will see working with Sir Alex as a huge opportunity.
Ferguson is quite a selling point, a larger than life figure with a remarkable track record for success. It has also been suggested in the most recent press stories about RVP’s next destination, that he would prefer a club with a grand history. This is one area where City are yet to overtake United and may not for decades.
Plus, a link up with United’s own talismanic forward Wayne Rooney is certainly something for RVP to ponder over. This unison would suit both strikers. RVP, able to play up front, through the centre, as he likes to do. Rooney, able to play in the hole behind a centre forward as best suits him. These two in tandem would certainly lay serious questions about City’s hold on the title they waited so long to win.
But, despite all these positives, at the age of 28 van Persie is about to sign the most important contract of his career. The last that he will get to negotiate whilst at the peak of his powers. With that in mind it’s worth remembering that United cannot compete with City’s financial clout.
Arsenal
I’ve read the stories, I’ve seen the statement from the man himself, I know that RVP has announced his intention to leave Arsenal. But football, as has been said at least once or twice, is a funny old game. The aforementioned Wayne Rooney seemed all but set to be leaving Man United in October 2010, Sir Alex himself had even acknowledged that Rooney wanted to leave. However, nothing came of this and it soon appeared to have just been a striker driving a hard bargain with his new contract.
Only RVP can say for certain if he is driving the same hard bargain. It seems unlikely, but stranger things have happened. He loves Arsenal football club, he is revered by their fans in a way formerly reserved for the likes of Thierry Henry & Ian Wright and he suits the Arsenal style of play to a tee. On top of that, the club has been unusually active and decisive in this transfer window thus far. Like I say, it seems unlikely, but let’s not completely dismiss Arsenal from the equation yet.
There may be more options for Robin van Persie to choose from than we are already aware. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if the likes of Paris St Germain, Barcelona, AC Milan, Real Madrid and possibly more were monitoring the situation, such is the talent of van Persie. It’s a daunting choice for him (or anyone, for that matter) to make and one that he will not know was correct until long after he’s made it.
I don’t know where Robin van Persie should play his football next season. I can only hope that he does.