Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen admits they'd squeezed everything out of their star players ahead of Robin van Persie's arrival.

Meulensteen feels Van Persie was the perfect signing to take United on to the next level after missing out on the Premier League title to neighbours Manchester City last season.

"It was time for Manchester United to have a big-name player like Robin van Persie again," said Meulensteen. "In the last few seasons, we had squeezed everything out of our star players and last season we were just not good enough.

"He's a really world-class act. As one of the biggest clubs in the world we really needed a player like him."