Wenger slams Marca’s RVP claims

Arsene Wenger has slammed Spanish newspaper Marca’s ‘creative’ reports that Robin Van Persie wants to leave Arsenal for Real Madrid.

The Gunners chief quickly hit out at reports on Friday which claimed his free-scoring 28-year-old Dutch international striker would be excited to play for Madrid, describing the possibility of joining Jose Mourinho’s side as ‘an honour’.

However, Wenger insisted that the report from Marca was fabricated and he has had no contact with either Real Madrid or Barcelona about Van Persie, who took his goals tally in all competitions this season to 28 following a hat-trick in last Saturday’s 7-1 mauling of struggling Blackburn.

“Frankly, Marca is as creative as some English newspapers. That means you cannot believe every word that is said in Marca,” Wenger told reporters at his press conference on Friday afternoon.

“They don’t care, Marca, at all. I think they are even far more from real evidence than any English newspapers. They create just stories.”

Van Persie, who has yet to agree to a new long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium, also spoke out on his Twitter site to confirm that he has ‘never spoken to Marca newspaper’.

Wayne Rooney says Manchester United have to beat Liverpool

With Manchester City now challenging Sir Alex Ferguson’s men for the title, the Manchester derby may be seen by some as more of a glamour tie as United face a Liverpool team who can, for this season at least, realistically only fight for a fourth-placed finish.

Rooney though, feels that this game will always be special for himself and both sets of supporters.

“United versus Liverpool has always been a massive game – it’s a game between the two biggest clubs in England,” he told the matchday programme, United Review.

“I used to watch the matches all the time when I was growing up and I always supported United in them! To be part of them now is fantastic but it’s a game you never want to lose.”

Much has been made in the build-up to this game about the saga involving Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra; the Uruguayan international plays only his second match since returning from suspension imposed when he was found guilty of directing racist abuse at Evra in the reverse fixture between the two teams in October.

Rooney, however, wants to focus on matters on the field, rather than off it.

“We’re all focused on the game,” he added. “There’s always a big buzz around Old Trafford for this fixture. The rivalry goes back years regardless of where the teams are in the league. There are three points at stake and that’s what both teams will be going for.”