---
title: "Will Robin van Persie be missed in the derby?"
canonical: "https://readmanutd.com/2015/04/10/will-robin-van-persie-be-missed-in-the-derby/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
section: "Articles"
published: "2015-04-10T18:15:31Z"
modified: "2015-04-13T23:32:30Z"
---

# Will Robin van Persie be missed in the derby?

Isn’t it funny how quickly things can change in football? Only a couple of seasons ago, Robin van Persie had joined Manchester United and was the catalyst for the Red Devils going on to win their 20th league title, in Sir Alex Ferguson’s last year at the club.  Fast forward to the present and van Persie’s place and role at the club are much more unclear, raising questions as to whether he has been missed in recent weeks with injury and whether he would be missed at the club, going forward in the future.

For the majority of the season, United’s play had been stagnating and unimpressive, thanks in large part to a lack of movement and penetration in attack from van Persie.  However, this has changed in the past month, with the team playing a lot better and getting critical results in the process.  Unfortunately for van Persie, this has coincided with an ankle injury the Dutchman picked up and meant him missing out, on this recent good run.

With him out, it saw Wayne Rooney getting pushed up front to lead the line and being removed from his role in centre midfield, a move that United fans had been crying out for all season.  The tempo and goal chances have increased; van Persie has not been missed in this spell as the likes of Rooney, Herrera, Mata and Fellaini have stepped up with goals in his absence. It would be a huge surprise if Louis van Gaal changed the current system and set up, that is working so well, for the remainder of the season.

Where does this leave van Persie in his career with United?  As stated earlier, he has cemented his place in United folklore with his heroics in the 2012/13 season, however, he is 31 now, and critically his injury problems have resurfaced over the past two years.  While he could still play a key role from the bench, it would be surprising he would accept that considering his age and he has been linked with other clubs in the summer transfer window.  A lot will depend on who the manager brings in summer for the club, but if one or two of the signings are strikers, then it would appear inevitable that Van Persie’s short yet wonderful reign at Old Trafford is over.