Ex-Arsenal skipper says he came to the north west to play alongside the Englishman.
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Manchester United front man Robin van Persie had begged his unsettled striker partner at Old Trafford, Wayne Rooney, to resist Chelsea’s overtures and remain with the Premier League champions next season, according to reports in the Daily Express.
The England international has been the subject of mounting speculation of late regarding his future in the north west after the west London club lodged two bids with United for their star man, the second of which is believed to be valued at £25 million plus the addition of certain add ons.
However, with the Red Devils still refusing to to sell Rooney to a domestic-based rival such as Chelsea, and player himself having been made to train with the reserves at Carrington last week, the forward’s United future is still very much up in the air.
And now the prolific Netherlands international, who was brought to the club last August from Arsenal for £22.5m in order to play up front alongside Rooney, has pleaded with his club-mate to stay at United this summer.
“Everyone wants Wayne to stay and deep down I think he feels the same,” said Van Persie.
“One of the reasons I joined Manchester United was to play with Wayne.
“I hope he stays. Not only is he a great goalscorer, he does so much work across the pitch.
“He hates to lose and that’s why you see him one minute pressing for goal, the next minute defending ferociously. He is an asset to any team.”
Rooney, 27, has scored an impressive 197 goals in total in all competitions for United in just 401 matches since joining the Premier League giants from Everton for £25.6m in the summer of 2004.