Robin van Persie on Friday completed his move to from Arsenal to Manchester United in a transfer which is believed to have cost the Red Devils around £24 million.
United confirmed the club had agreed on a fee with Arsenal on Wednesday evening, and the Dutch striker underwent a successful medical exam on Thursday before the final elements of the transfer were wrapped up.
"I'm older now, I have experience and this is a new challenge. I've had lots of challenges, but this stands as my biggest," said van Persie to reporters.
"This move makes me proud and I'm hoping to achieve big things."
The 29-year-old insisted that there was no ill will between Arsenal and himself, but that he simply couldn't turn the chance down.
Van Persie added: "From my side and Arsenal's side there are no hard feelings. It's just on certain elements I had different view.
"But that's life. Nobody is angry at me, I'm not angry at them. Sometimes you disagree on certain things and I'm here now, for the biggest challenge of my life."
Initially it seemed English champions Manchester City or Italian giants Juventus would be his likely destination, but van Persie did not want to go anywhere but United.
He said: "It's always difficult to find a perfect match but I do feel that this is the perfect match for me.
"Manchester United breathes football. If you look at other players from United, the stadium and the manager, my choice was made very soon in my mind.
"When I have to make a hard decision in life, I always listen to the little boy inside me. What does he want? That little boy was screaming for Manchester United.
"I think everybody knows me by now. I'm a lover of football, I love football, and from that perspective I'm quite principled."
Van Persie's persistence helped force through the transfer Sir Alex Ferguson never thought was possible, the first player Arsène Wenger had ever sold to United.
"We never thought we could get van Persie," said the Red Devils chief.
"If you go back six months ago, I couldn't see us getting him.I thought Arsenal are not going to let him go.
"When I read he had refused a new contract, that is when we acted. It has been a long haul."
Ferguson admitted van Persie's signing will give him a selection headache as he tries to give enough playing time to an attacking unit that already includes Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernández.
It is a pleasant problem to have and reminds the Scot of dealing with the demands of Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær, who combined to fire United to the treble in 1999.
Ferguson added: "I have a complication to my life. I don't know how I managed in 1999.
"They can gel together. Robin's best position is furthest up the pitch. The most important thing is to win what we want to win. These players can help us to do that."
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| New Manchester United player Robin van Persie poses alongside manager Sir Alex Ferguson Photo: AP |
United confirmed the club had agreed on a fee with Arsenal on Wednesday evening, and the Dutch striker underwent a successful medical exam on Thursday before the final elements of the transfer were wrapped up.
"I'm older now, I have experience and this is a new challenge. I've had lots of challenges, but this stands as my biggest," said van Persie to reporters.
"This move makes me proud and I'm hoping to achieve big things."
The 29-year-old insisted that there was no ill will between Arsenal and himself, but that he simply couldn't turn the chance down.
Van Persie added: "From my side and Arsenal's side there are no hard feelings. It's just on certain elements I had different view.
"But that's life. Nobody is angry at me, I'm not angry at them. Sometimes you disagree on certain things and I'm here now, for the biggest challenge of my life."
Initially it seemed English champions Manchester City or Italian giants Juventus would be his likely destination, but van Persie did not want to go anywhere but United.
He said: "It's always difficult to find a perfect match but I do feel that this is the perfect match for me.
"Manchester United breathes football. If you look at other players from United, the stadium and the manager, my choice was made very soon in my mind.
"When I have to make a hard decision in life, I always listen to the little boy inside me. What does he want? That little boy was screaming for Manchester United.
"I think everybody knows me by now. I'm a lover of football, I love football, and from that perspective I'm quite principled."
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| New Manchester United player Robin van Persie poses with his new No 20 jersey Photo: Getty Images |
Van Persie's persistence helped force through the transfer Sir Alex Ferguson never thought was possible, the first player Arsène Wenger had ever sold to United.
"We never thought we could get van Persie," said the Red Devils chief.
"If you go back six months ago, I couldn't see us getting him.I thought Arsenal are not going to let him go.
"When I read he had refused a new contract, that is when we acted. It has been a long haul."
Ferguson admitted van Persie's signing will give him a selection headache as he tries to give enough playing time to an attacking unit that already includes Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernández.
It is a pleasant problem to have and reminds the Scot of dealing with the demands of Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær, who combined to fire United to the treble in 1999.
Ferguson added: "I have a complication to my life. I don't know how I managed in 1999.
"They can gel together. Robin's best position is furthest up the pitch. The most important thing is to win what we want to win. These players can help us to do that."
Related links: Team Personal Also see:
