MANCHESTER UNITED FORWARD Robin van Persie claims he does not want to be sat on the bench next season while praising the work done by reported suitors Juventus.
The Netherlands international fell down the pecking order at Old Trafford last season as Louis van Gaal opted to use Wayne Rooney as a lone striker during the second half of the season.
And the former Arsenal attacker is keen to make sure he avoids sitting on the bench next season as he looks to find form ahead of the European Championships in France.
“It is my ambition to play as many games as possible. I feel fitter than ever,” he told the Sunday Mirror.
“I know that the more games I play, the more it will help me prepare for the European Championships next summer. As a player you want to arrive at tournaments with good match time and not as a bench-sitter.
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“I know that when you are at a club like Man United, you have to accept that you cannot always play or be guaranteed a starting place.
“It is like a beast. It is so big and strong and it can do wonderful things for you, but it also has a negative side and that is what I have got to decide on this summer.
The 31-year-old has been on international duty this week AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
“United spent £200 million on players last year and they are going to spend another £200m this summer, so we will have a team that can compete for the title.
“I will take everything into consideration when I decide on my future and I know I have to be realistic about the situation.”
The 31-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Juventus amid reports he is set to leave the 20-time English champions.
And Van Persie admits he has been impressed by the Champions League runners-up after speaking to former United team-mate and current Juve defender Patrice Evra.
“I still speak to my old mate Patrice. He has told me stories about how Juventus train, how hard they work, and how they manage to be successful,” he added.
“They have a fantastic spirit in their team. They have a totally different approach from English or Dutch players before games.
“They grab each other by the head, they shout at each other to pump each other up. And they also have big running sessions after games.
“Patrice has told me that there are so many ways to be successful and that you can’t say one way or another is perfect.”
Van Persie's Old Trafford future thrown into further doubt after his latest comments
MANCHESTER UNITED FORWARD Robin van Persie claims he does not want to be sat on the bench next season while praising the work done by reported suitors Juventus.
The Netherlands international fell down the pecking order at Old Trafford last season as Louis van Gaal opted to use Wayne Rooney as a lone striker during the second half of the season.
And the former Arsenal attacker is keen to make sure he avoids sitting on the bench next season as he looks to find form ahead of the European Championships in France.
“It is my ambition to play as many games as possible. I feel fitter than ever,” he told the Sunday Mirror.
“I know that when you are at a club like Man United, you have to accept that you cannot always play or be guaranteed a starting place.
“It is like a beast. It is so big and strong and it can do wonderful things for you, but it also has a negative side and that is what I have got to decide on this summer.
“United spent £200 million on players last year and they are going to spend another £200m this summer, so we will have a team that can compete for the title.
The 31-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Juventus amid reports he is set to leave the 20-time English champions.
And Van Persie admits he has been impressed by the Champions League runners-up after speaking to former United team-mate and current Juve defender Patrice Evra.
“I still speak to my old mate Patrice. He has told me stories about how Juventus train, how hard they work, and how they manage to be successful,” he added.
“They grab each other by the head, they shout at each other to pump each other up. And they also have big running sessions after games.
“Patrice has told me that there are so many ways to be successful and that you can’t say one way or another is perfect.”
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Serie A exit door Juventus Manchester United Premier League Robin van Persie