• Premier League

Van Persie wants title triumph

Robin van Persie has revealed Sir Alex Ferguson believed he was not ready to move to England when he was at Feyenoord © PA Photos

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• Profile: Robin van Persie

Robin van Persie has revealed his goal was to win three trophies in his first season with Manchester United, but will settle for winning the Premier League title away to Arsenal next month.

Van Persie moved to Old Trafford from the Gunners in a £24 million transfer last summer, and has been forced to adjust his ambitions since United were bundled out of the Champions League by Real Madrid over two legs earlier this month.

The striker is now hopeful the league leaders can seal the domestic title when they play Manchester City on April 8, or at Arsenal three weeks later.

"My goal was to win the treble," Van Persie is quoted as saying in the Daily Mirror. "I wanted the Premier League, the Champions League and the FA Cup.

"Now we only have the double and, yes, I think we could win the title at Arsenal or even against Manchester City. But I really don't care where we win it. I just want to grab that league title."

A target for United during his days in the Eredivisie in his homeland, Van Persie says he is now at an age when he can appreciate being at one of the Premier League's biggest clubs.

"[Manchester United manager] Sir Alex Ferguson once sent a scout over to Holland to watch me when I was a young player at Feyenoord. But I was sent off that afternoon and the scout went back to England with that in his report.

"Sir Alex mentioned that to me when I arrived at United. He felt I was not yet ready for a move to a big English club all those years ago - and he was right. I said to the boss 'you were right then, but I am ready now'," he explained.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.