Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was missing from last night's friendly against Hannover.

The Mail on Sunday says Ferguson skipped his side's final pre-season friendly in Hannover as his long-running feud with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger threatened to wreck a £15million move for Van Persie.

United's £15m offer for 29-year-old Van Persie is only half what Arsenal are demanding from Ferguson and sources close to Old Trafford feel the great rivalry between Wenger and the Scot could count against them.