Van Persie: De Jong wrong about Manchester United fans

Robin van Persie says the turnout for Manchester United’s trophy parade on Monday disproves Nigel De Jong’s claim that there are more City fans than Red Devils supporters in Manchester.

An estimated 100,000 United supporters lined the streets at the start of the week as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side paraded their 20th English league title around the city.

And Van Persie, who moved to Old Trafford from Arsenal last August, was staggered by the turnout and believes it proves his compatriot wrong.

“I have to say, I spoke to Nigel De Jong a couple of years ago when he was playing for City and he said ‘in Manchester, you only have City fans’,” Van Persie told MUTV.

“I said: ‘OK that sounds a bit weird but whatever’ and he claimed United fans are from all over the world, and from different cities.

“But I have to adjust him on that and say it is definitely not true. It is at least 50/50 in Manchester or it might be even more after what I saw last Monday, maybe it is 80/20 United.”

Van Persie has scored 25 Premier League goals for United this season since joining the club from Arsenal in a £24m deal last summer.