Ferguson's van Persie bid stalls - as Manchester United miss out on Moura

Manchester United suffered a double blow in the transfer market after Sir Alex Ferguson admitted the club's efforts to sign Robin van Persie from Arsenal had hit an impasse, while Lucas Moura had opted to join PSG.

An unhappy Sir Alex Ferguson at the press conference after his side's 2-0 friendly defeat to Barcelona in Gothenberg

GOTHENBERG // Manchester United admit they are still waiting for a response from Arsenal over their bid for Robin Van Persie - after missing out on Lucas Moura.

Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, revealed negotiations with their English Premier League rivals over last season's top scorer had hit a brick wall.

United looked to have edged ahead of Juventus and champions Manchester City in the race to sign the Holland international after he revealed he would not be extending his contract at the Emirates.

However, Arsene Wenger has never sold a player to United and would appear to be in no hurry to now.

"We have made a bid and they've been trying to negotiate with other clubs," said Ferguson after Manchester United's penalties defeat to Barcelona.

"I don't have a gut feeling on it at the moment, I must admit.

"We're not getting any breakthrough with Arsenal.

"It's difficult to say why they're operating this way.

"I don't know what their thoughts are because they're not giving anything away.

"We just have to persevere. We are trying our best and hopefully it will come our way but there's no progress at this moment in time."

It was a second transfer blow for United, after news last night that Brazil teenager Lucas Moura had opted to sign for Qatar-backed Paris Saint-Germain on a four-and-a-half year deal, rather than move to Old Trafford.

Ferguson had confirmed his interest in the 19-year-old Olympic football squad member, and hit out over PSG's spending power - suggesting the sports governing bodies should step in over the situation.

"I find it quite amazing that a club can pay EU45million (Dh204.6m) for a 19-year-old boy," he said.

"To tell everyone that PSG are here they've signed Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. They must have spent about £150 million in the last month.

"The only deterrent to that is UEFA.

"In the conditions of European football, you don't qualify for Europe by winning the league or coming second - you only get in by invitation.

"That's where, hopefully, UEFA can have some power.

"When somebody's paying £45 million for a 19-year-old boy you have to say the game's gone mad."

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