Man Utd & Man City make Van Persie bids

LONDON – Arsenal have dismissed Manchester United’s bid for Robin van Persie. Offers from both Manchester City and Juventus also fall short of the Gunners’ valuation of the 28-year-old.

Friday, July 20, 2012
Van Persie was all smiles in training amid his exit plans. Net photo.

LONDON – Arsenal have dismissed Manchester United’s bid for Robin van Persie. Offers from both Manchester City and Juventus also fall short of the Gunners’ valuation of the 28-year-old.It is understood City, United and Juve tabled offers for the Netherlands striker, who has a year left on his contract, but Arsenal are keen to hold out for a fee of £25-30m.Skipper Van Persie, who joined Arsenal from Feyenoord for £2.75m in 2004, says he will not sign a new deal.The Dutchman scored 41 goals in 53 games for club and country last season and was named both the Professional Footballers’ Association and Football Writers’ player of the year last season.However, he suffered a disappointing Euro 2012 campaign, scoring only once as the Netherlands were eliminated at the group stage.After meeting with manager Arsene Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis in mid-May, Van Persie revealed he had disagreed with both men on the way the Premier League club should move forward."I’ve thought long and hard about it, but I have decided not to extend my contract,” he wrote on his website."This was a meeting about the club’s future strategy and their policy. Financial terms or a contract have not been discussed, since that is not my priority at all."I personally have had a great season but my goal has been to win trophies with the team and to bring the club back to its glory days.Arsenal are scheduled to play matches in Malaysia, China and Hong Kong over the next two weeks. Van Persie will remain in England while his team-mates are away on tour, working on his fitness at Arsenal’s London Colney training base.