Fenerbahce Pay to Send Devastated Young Robin van Persie Fan to Turkey

You might have seen the video above. 

It is of young Louis Diamond, a four-year-old Manchester United fan who was devastated by the news that his favourite player, Robin van Persie, was being sold to Turkish club Fenerbahce. 

The video went viral and made it to Turkey, where one Fenerbahce fan decided to do something about. 

He set up a donation page to try to raise funds for Louis and his family to fly to Turkey and watch Van Persie play for his new club. 

The supporter in question, Ragip Ulas Altun, said, per Who Ate All The Pies: 

"

If you really love something, you start crying the moment you get close to losing it. As a child, you haven’t quite grasped the workings of the world yet so it’s even harder.

But this is how the world works. It generally makes you cry. You learn it in time.

In this video you can see what a Manchester United fan, a tiny little boy, went through when he heard that Robin van Persie was going to transfer to Fenerbahce…

I would like this little kid to come to the league’s first match of the season. Fenerbahce’s match against Eskisehir Spor, and if it’s possible, to meet Van Persie.

I have a small boutique hotel in Galata, Istanbul. I will take on the family’s accommodation, transfer and other costs, I just need the family to pay for their London-Istanbul flights. Unfortunately the family expressed that they couldn’t do that, and I can’t afford that either.

If you want, and if you can, I say let’s buy the ticket together.

"

As of Monday morning, $839 of the target of $2,000 had already been raised.

There are even some suggestions on Reddit that Fenerbahce have been made aware of the news and will cover the cost of the flights, with any additional money raised going to charity. 

It's a feel-good story for sure. 

Update: August 14

Fenerbahce pulled through, and Louis made the trip to Istanbul on Thursday.

According to the Guardian, the club paid for the trip. 

As per the paper: 

"

The clip found its way to the Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim who then decided to invite the Diamond family to Turkey. Yildirim’s invitation was accepted and they arrived in Istanbul on Thursday evening to be greeted by the Fenerbahce TV crew.

The five-year-old will watch the opening game of the season between Fenerbahce and Eskisehirspor on Friday evening from the president’s box at the Sukru Saracoglu stadium. Although Van Persie’s participation is not yet confirmed, with the Dutchman only returning to training on Wednesday after injury, he will meet the Diamond family after the match regardless.

A Fenerbahce board member, Ilhan Eksioglu, had another surprise in store booking the family a five-day holiday in a popular summer holiday destination Antalya.

"

Fair play to all involved. 

Update: August 15

The young fan got his wish! 

Robin van Persie tweeted out a picture meeting the fan on Saturday with the simple message, "Happy to see him smile now!" with an obligatory emoticon. 

[h/t Who Ate All Pies]