Lazio president Claudio Lotito has dismissed reports suggesting that the club are on the verge of signing Manchester United striker Robin van Persie.
The Manchester United forward, 31, has been linked with a A?5 million move away from Old Trafford as his contract expires next summer.
He has been far from his impressive best this season and one of the primary reason alongside Falcao’s poor season that Manchester United are in the market for a forward.
Primarily linked with a move for Real Madrid star Karim Benzema with latest reports suggesting Real Madrid are prepared to offer him as a bait to get the David De Gea deal through.
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That also led to recent reports linking van Persie with a move to Italy with Lazio and Juventus. With van Persie spotted in Rome, it was believed that the move was imminent.
Robin van Persie in Rome with his wife as rumours of a move to Lazio rumble on. (Source: @cmdotcom) pic.twitter.com/iPi5wGMCtf
a Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) June 6, 2015
Van Persie, when asked, denied the move: a I am only here on vacation,a he told reporters outside his hotel.
The president of Lazio also was swift to deny any rumors of a move. Lolito was quoted saying: “Don’t talk about it, I have just landed in Berlin [for the UEFA Champions League final],” he told Corriere dello Sport. “It’s all rubbish! Total bull! (Agent Vincenzo) Morabito is the one trying to spread these rumours.”
Van Persie has also been heavily linked with a move to Juventus and the striker himself fueled the rumors of an exit by saying that he was in regular touch with his teammate Patrice Evra in Turin:
“I still speak to my old mate Patrice. He has told me stories about how Juventus train, how hard they work and how they manage to be successful.”
a They have a fantastic spirit a a totally different approach from English or Dutch players before games. They grab each other by the head, they shout at each other to pump each other up.”
a And they also have big running sessions after games. Patrice has showed me there are many ways to be successful.a
With van Persie himself quoted saying that his future at Manchester United is far from certain, an interesting summer awaits the Dutchman.