Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson compares Robin Van Persie to Eric Cantona

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has likened Robin Van Persie to Eric Cantona, claiming the striker has many of the same qualities of the club legend.

Cantona joined United in 1992 and was inspirational in the club’s run to the Premier League title, the first time in 26 years they had topped the league, and he went on to win a further three titles before retiring at the age of 30.

Van Persie has made an immediate impact since moving from Arsenal in the summer and Ferguson believes the Dutchman can emulate Cantona’s achievements at Old Trafford.

“He has got a similar profile to Eric in terms of age and maturity. He had a great spell at Arsenal so there is no issue with him needing to settle into the Premier League,” Ferguson told Eurosport.

“He came from one big club to another big club and he is an established international. All these things in his profile suited us perfectly.”

Many of Van Persie’s team-mates have praised the impact he has made in his first few months at United and Ferguson is in no doubt that having the 29-year-old in the squad is benefiting his other strikers.

“I think it is happening. The attacking aspect of our game has definitely improved and of course he has weighed in with 15 goals so far,” he explained.

“Chicharito has got nine goals, (Wayne) Rooney has eight and you only need to look at the number of goals we have scored around as a team, 43, which is quite a high amount for this time of year.”