Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Van Persie deal a hoax say Gers
MARK Warbur ton has laughed off reports linking Rangers with Robin van Persie.
Claims that the Ibrox club were ready to make a move for the former Arsenal and Manchester United star spread like wildfire across social media onWednesday.
Bookmakers Ladbrokes even suspended betting on the Dutchman making a switch to Glasgow after taking a “flurry of bets”.
But the whole episode left Warburton perplexed as he insisted he had never even made an enquiry about the 32-year-old, reported to be currently earning more than £100,000 a week with Turkish outfit Fenerbahce, with the Gers boss admitting he was both “bemused and amused” by the misleading gossip.
“I wonder what the first q u e s t i o n w i l l b e ,” t h e Englishman said as he sat down ahead of his weekly press conference.
“I have no idea where the rumour has emanated from. I woke up to a barrage of texts and missed calls, with apparently the deal done.
“Everybody knew about it apart from the people at Rangers Football Club.
“Out of our pay league I think is a fair comment.
“He’s an unbelievably talented player but absolutely nothing i n it whatsoever. I’m bemused to hear some of the stories, including betting being suspended.
“There is no truth in the story whatsoever.”
The Van Persie claims come just days after another internet fabrication suggested the Light Blues were in talks with former Celtic goal machine Henrik Larsson’s son Jordan.
The Helsingborg teen took to Twitter to shoot down the claims, posting: “Me? Signing for Them? Are u having a laugh?”
Warburton reckons it has all been the work of hoaxers and said: “These stories do entertain me. I don’t know where these things come from. I’m sure someone is laughing somewhere.”