Sir Alex Ferguson told he’d stay for another three years: Robin van Persie

New Delhi: Robin van Persie has admitted that the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson hit him hard. After a shock move from Arsenal in 2012, RVP won the English title with Manchester United in his first season at Old Trafford.

For his part, the Dutchman scored 26 goals, three more than Liverpool's Luis Suarez for the top scorer award. But, more importantly, the title allowed the most successful manager in English football to take a glorified exit.

Talking to a leading newspaper, RVP said that "My decision to come to Manchester was partly because of the presence of Ferguson, or excuse me, Sir Alex. And he told me he’d stay for another three years. I enjoyed his approach."

Earlier, his former United team-mate Rio Ferdinand claimed that the "person Ferguson's retirement hit more than anyone was Robin."

The former Arsenal front-man defended Ferdinand and said, "Rio is a great guy. He talks a lot but there is some truth in that."

After 27 years at Old Trafford, Ferguson retired in 2013 and helped install David Moyes as his successor. But under Moyes, Red Devils hit new low and finished the 2013-14 season seventh.

Before the start of the current season. United have signed high-profile Dutch manager Louis van Gaal as their new manager.

With agency inputs