Robin van Persie: “Greenwood Is Better At 18 Than Me”

Robin van Persie feels that Mason Greenwood is playing better at 18 years of age than he was.

Mason Greenwood’s rise this campaign has been a thing of beauty as the teenager has netted 17 goals across all competitions this season and all at the age of 18.

His swagger, confidence, and style in front of goal has led many to liken him to former United and Arsenal striker Robin van Persie. The Dutchman is aware of the comparison and has commented on them quite often.

However, recently he went on to lavish even more high praise on the academy graduate.

Speaking to Soccer AM’s Lloyd Griffith, Van Persie opines: “When I watch him [Greenwood] play, it just brings a big smile to my face. He’s deadly with his finishing. The way he finishes is very unique. He’s 18 years old! As a young kid, I didn’t score many goals when I was 18 so Mason Greenwood is definitely doing better at 18 than me.”

He then goes on to attribute Greenwood’s rise to the managerial brilliance of Ole Gunnar Solskjær, adding: “Solskjaer makes Greenwood one of the main guys and that is what you want. You want that coming from the coach. And Solskjaer gives that to Bruno Fernandes, to Paul Pogba, to Mason Greenwood, to Marcus Rashford, to Anthony Martial and you can see these guys blossom with that, they love it.”

High praise from the prolific goal-scorer.

Concluding on how United will fare against Sevilla in the semi-final of the Europa League, he didn’t mince words, stating: “They have more control, they’re more bossing games and everyone knows that you have to be consistent if you want to be competing for trophies. They are more consistent now and if they keep doing that they are definitely contenders.”