5 July 2012 – The football world was like an Indian daily-soap’s version of unplanned quotidian gatherings of ladies in a society. Gossips were everywhere. Speculations were everywhere. Someone was discussed. Someone was the immediate centre of attraction. A section of people disdained, another section approved, some were mocking, and some were envious.
Then comes an official statement and the gossiping ends for some time. It was about Robin van Persie. The highest league-scorer in 2011/12 season, who apparently was not convinced with the way Arsenal functioned. The message was loud and clear – He wanted out.
The disdaining section now ridiculed him even badly, the approving section was over-the-moon, the mocking ones could now do the same without any fear of a counter-attack, and the envious ones were, well, burning.
15 August, 2012 –The wait seemed rather long. ‘ANNOUNCE, SOMEONE BLOODY ANNOUNCE’. Manchester United fans were getting impatient with each passing minute, which seemed nothing less than an hour. There was no Ed Woodward in those days. There were no surprise elements. So when the official account came up with a deal announcement, people were already discussing the prospects of United’s next signing.
5 PM, Arsenal’s official twitter – ‘Robin van Persie has officially completed his transfer to Manchester United’.
Okay, this has happened. You put down the mobile, take a deep breath in. You feel in all the excitement, your nerves are relieved. Your mind is now officially licensed to image the pictures you were craving for. “Robin van Persie is in Manchester United colours, coming out of the Old Trafford tunnel to a spine-chilling applause, his every touch greeted by the chants of his name, a shot in into the right corner with that glorious left foot, ‘AND ROBIN VAN PERSIE SCORES FOR MANCHESTER UNITED’: a celebration in front of the Stretford End”.
You release the breath slowly.
11:50 PM, Manchester United – ‘A deal has been agreed for Robin van Persie’.
Yeah, we know.
December 9, 2012 – It’s the 86th minute of the Manchester derby. United is playing City at their stadium. The score is 2-1 in favour of the visitors, and it is a corner for Manchester City. A clearance is made by Rafael, which is negated by Tevez, and subsequently is converted into an equalizer.
United are anxious. So are the fans. It’s a usual Fergie restlessness to scratch out a winner in extra time. And in the 92nd minute, Rafael is fouled by Tevez, and a free-kick is awarded to United.
Karma.
Robin van Persie steps up to the occasion. It is his spot. ‘Bhai please’, you shout on the television. ‘comeoncomeoncomeoncomeon’, you keep on muttering. Robin van Persie takes his position, runs on the stride, and kicks. Ball curls through the air, beats Joe Hart, right into the bottom left corner.
Manchester United wins in Fergie time through a Robin van Persie free-kick winner.
There was this weird desperateness about this victory. The neighbours were not too kind in the recent history of clashes between the two. The neighbours took away the league title in the cruellest of ways. A last minute winner. It was United’s time to give them a taste of their medicine.
This goal was a pivotal moment in United’s road to winning the title back from Manchester City. Robin van Persie, the right man at the right time.
April 14, 2013 – Stoke City vs Manchester United
Football is not a very kind sport. In fact, no sport is. There are some excellent days, and then there are some gruesome ones. For him, those days were the latter. He endured 8 goalless league games. His confidence was dropped. People were writing him off. A NASA astronaut at ISS could listen to the calls for dropping van Persie from the team.
Fergie never gave up. He never gives up.
Robin van Persie was fouled inside the box, and a penalty was awarded. ‘THIS IS THE CHANCE’, a rhythmic cry across the Manchester United fan-base. He is the main striker at United. He needs a goal as badly as a man travelling through the desert needs water. He gets into the position. Our hands are joined together. He shoots. He scores.
There are some moments where it is difficult resisting the emotional outpour. MS Dhoni could not do it when he won the Champions Trophy in England. Robin van Persie could not do it either, when he scored that penalty. He ran straight to the dugout and hugged Alex Ferguson. ‘His hug nearly killed me’, Fergie jokingly said after the match. We celebrated like there is no tomorrow. He celebrated like there is no tomorrow.
22 April, 2013 – Manchester United are hosting Aston Villa. It’s the 13th minute of the game, and United are leading 1-0. A win seals the Premier League trophy for Manchester United, and Robin van Persie has scored the first goal, just 83 seconds from kick off. Rooney now has the ball. He is good at providing long balls. He sees Robin van Persie up forward, and so he does that again. From nearly the half-way line, he sends in one curving into Robin, who volleys it over to the top-right corner. 2-0. United has done it! The Premier League trophy is rightfully theirs! Robin van Persie took number 20 when he signed for Manchester United this season, and now he gives them their 20th league title!
And you wake up.
Alright! Sorry for spoiling your ride to those beautiful memories. But really, this is stuff made out in heavens, isn’t it? Here is a goal which everyone still regards as something magical, beyond words, beyond explanation. The only logical reaction to that goal is to either be mad or just be silent, both in shock, and a subsequent laudation to the master-class just been witnessed. Alex Ferguson even termed it as ‘The goal of the century’.
Robin van Persie went on to score a hattrick in that game, and United won the Premier League again. Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United’s manager for 26 years, announced his retirement on May the 8th, 2013. Robin van Persie will forever be remembered for playing a pivotal role in the title-winning campaign, which was not only important in football terms, but had a deep connection with emotions as well.
19th March, 2014 – Times were bad. Not only for Robin van Persie, but for Manchester United as well. The club was struggling at 7th in the league (where they would eventually finish later), and was just coping up with a 0-3 loss to their bitter rivals Liverpool. Then came a Champions League night at Old Trafford. Like in every game during those days, this one was also greeted with an air of negativity all around it. The night began with threats to tear down ‘The Chosen One’ banner at Old Trafford, and, to much surprise, ended up with songs of jubilations at the venue.
Robin van Persie had a tough season. Ferguson’s retirement was hard to take in. There were reports of fallouts between him and David Moyes. Injuries had started troubling him. He was deteriorating as a player. But here, he was the difference.
Robin van Persie scored a penalty, and scored another two, as Manchester United went through to the next round with a 3-0 win. The win was necessary, because even when you know that something is not good in the roots, you crave for a moment which distracts you for good. When you look back to those days, you cherish that memory, because it is special, because it stands out of everything, and because it is unique. This was special. This stood out of everything. This was unique. This was the Champions League, the most reputed competition in European football.
The win was a clear reminder of how special a place is Old Trafford. Under the lights, a Champions League night, the fans sung their hearts out, and the team rewarded them with a place in quarter-finals. ‘Manchester United stuns Olympiakos’, a headline read later.
‘Stuns’.
Since 2013, times were tough. Robin van Persie had his occasional moments of brilliance, but near the end of 2014-15 season, everyone knew that the end was nigh. But for a season, he was the best player, for the greatest team in England. He gave United a league title, for which every United fan would forever be grateful.
So dear Robin, thank you for all these lovely memories. Good luck in Turkey.
THE CHHEEE MAN 