Overview: Van Persie was the season’s statement signing

IT DID not happen during the season. It did not even happen in England. But it was the image on which the entire campaign was shaped.

Twenty four hours earlier, Sir Alex Ferguson had sat, relaxed and in control, in a beautiful Durban hotel, denying he was considering a move for Robin van Persie. As Ferguson nestled in his seat for the following morning’s flight to Cape Town, Arsenal let it be known United had indeed expressed an interest in their best player.

“I think Arsenal came out with a statement saying we made a bid. You know we try to do business before we announce anything and that’s what we’re going to do,” Ferguson said.

Even that information was only prised out of Ferguson after he had been informed an interview he had given to MUTV, in which he admitted a bid, had just been made public. It was almost comical to see the Scot squirm. But the man who was really shuffling around in a most uncomfortable fashion was Roberto Mancini, for the Manchester City manager knew his No 1 transfer target was heading for his rivals.

In the intervening months, Mancini has declared so often Van Persie has been the difference between the two Manchester outfits.

It’s not just been Van Persie’s contribution on the pitch, which, for the first three fifths of the campaign was utterly magnificent. Until 2008 and the arrival of Dimitar Berbatov, United had been used to big-name signings. But, in the four years since, United fans had to watch as Manchester City, the club they had spent a lifetime laughing at, went on a spending spree that eventually gathered some of the world’s best players.

Ferguson tinkered, adding the likes of Ashley Young and Phil Jones and, while one title and two very near misses were decent, many supporters feared City’s first triumph last term would only be the beginning. The arrival of Van Persie therefore, was was a statement of intent. For Van Persie to make the impact he did, starting with a match-winning hat-trick at Southampton, then goals that sealed crucial victories at Liverpool and City, underlined the wisdom of paying £24 million for a 29-year-old with just a year on his contract.

City were playing catch-up and United’s remorseless attitude did the rest. Chelsea were never in the hunt and the only danger for United was from themselves. But a mini slump after their Champions League exit to Real Madrid only cost them a shot at the FA Cup and derby bragging rights.