How Robin van Persie Can Win Back the Love of the Manchester United Fans

Robin van Persie's first season at Manchester United was a constantly unfolding joy. First of all, there was his surprising acquisition, which in itself brought a degree of happiness. Then there was the discovery of just what a good player he was.

Sir Alex Ferguson said in April 2013, per BBC Sport, "I remember Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger saying to me 'he's better than you think' when we concluded the deal. He was right." 

Van Persie's all-round game was incredibly impressive in that first season. His hold-up play, positional discipline and remarkable range of finishing won him his first title and the hearts of many United fans.

Jon Super/Associated Press

He clearly relished working under Sir Alex, embracing his manager in a hug on the touchline when celebrating a goal against Stoke City. After Ferguson's retirement, Van Persie said of the Scot, per Manchester United's official website:

"

He's a great manager, maybe the best ever. Although I've only been working under him for one year, it feels a lot more.

The impact he's made on me, and the impact he made on this club for 26 and a half years, is incredible. It's an honour for me to be able to say when I'm older that I've been working with him. It's one year but it feels more and it's just a big honour for me to work with him.

"

As well as Sir Alex, Van Persie seemed to really appreciate United as a whole, and he was full of admiration for the club's then-still-playing legends. He told the Manchester Evening News:

"

The things I am seeing, for example playing five against two in the box in training and playing with Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs. The choices they make in that box is just incredible. It is just great fun to be part of that.

Scholesy has a way when he goes up to head the ball as if it was going one way but the ball is going the other way. Every single time, he does this trick. It is hilarious when you see it happening. We all know when the ball goes in the air he will do it. It is so special.

With Giggsy as well, every single touch is the right one. Every single move is right. Technically he is so good.

"

Sadly for Van Persie, those glorious heady days have a sepia tint to them now. He was unhappy when Sir Alex left. Speaking about the manager's retirement to MUTV, Rio Ferdinand said (h/t ESPN.co.uk). "The person it hit more than anyone was Robin. He'd come the year before, tasted that success and wanted more. Visually you could see it hit him harder than anyone else at the time." 

Van Persie confirmed this, saying to Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant (h/t the Guardian) "Rio is a great guy. He talks a lot but there is some truth in that."

Since then, Van Persie's United career has rarely approached the same peaks. After David Moyes left, he seemed to rediscover his optimism, giving instruction to "save this interview" after declaring that United would be back. It is easy to speculate that he had some knowledge of who would be arriving to manage the club, given his international relationship with Louis van Gaal.

Sadly for Van Persie, while recent form certainly makes it seem like United are "back," their best performances have come without him. In truth, United fans still have plenty of love for Van Persie because of that first season and his infectious enthusiasm.

It is just that love currently feels nostalgic, akin to the warmth felt to greats of a bygone era. For Van Persie to rekindle the fans' contemporary affections, he will have to find a consistency of form and fitness which has eluded him since Sir Alex's retirement.

Van Gaal has given him plenty of chances to do so. In spite of his recent injury, Van Persie is still fourth in United's league-minutes-played table, per WhoScored.com. It should be said in the interests of balance that he is also second in United's goalscorer's table, but his goals have come in bursts, though, interspersed with significant dry spells.

Jon Super/Associated Press

The truth is, even if Van Persie is never able to recapture the brilliance of that first season, he will—barring any future disastrous events—retain a place in the affections of United fans. Without him, there would have been no title No. 20 and a far less glorious send-off for Sir Alex.

For that alone, Van Persie does not really have to do anything to win back the love of United fans because he has never really lost it.