ROBIN VAN PERSIE,PLEASE WHO IS TCHUNA?

Revealed: Manchester United’s Robin vanPersie’s T-shirt goal tribute was to ‘close friend’who died 24

hours before game – as Twitter  goes mad speculating over who Tchuna was.

After netting his side’s second and final goal in Manchester United’s 2-0 home victory against West Bromwich Albion, star striker Robin van Persie revealed a tribute on a T-shirt.

In the hours after the game, mystery surrounded who the message ‘R.I.P. Tchuna We Will Never Forget You’ was relating to with a number of social networking websites and news sites and football forums speculating their own theories.

Manchester United Football Club have since contacted Mail Online saying that the message related to a close friend of the £24m man who had died 24-hours before the game.

 

Who is it? Van Persie lifting his club shirt to reveal a message which has sent the rumour mill into overdrive

Sky Sports have also reported the same line.

However, it appears Twitter and Facebook users refuse to be convinced by that information, and until the Dutchman reveals it himself, it seems the rumour mill will continue into overdrive.

Discussion on Twitter has led many to believe it is actually the name of the Indian girl who was gang raped and later died as a result of her injuries in a Singapore hospital.

 More…

• Manchester United 2 West Brom 0: RVP climbs off bench to add gloss to narrow win

While others have put forward the theory that it is the name of the Dutch linesman who was beaten and kicked to death while officiating at a junior football game in Holland.

The fact his name has been revealed as Richard Nieuwenhuizen may well dispel that theory.

 

We will remember: After scoring a fine individual effort for Manchester United, van Persie reveals his heartfelt message

 

 

For you: Van Persie is mobbed by his team-mates after scoring, but he manages to get his message across

Other theories put forward on Twitter is that ‘Tchuna’ was his grandpa, while some have posted that it was in fact the name of his hairdresser back in Holland.

Van Persie’s agency SEG International have so far been unavailable to confirm the true identity of the mystery name.

More accurate? JBO seems to think he knows the truth

I know: Some users are adamant that van Persie’s tribute was for the tragic Indian woman who was raped and died from her injuries

 

Not so sure: However, this user doubts that claim

 

Closer to home: This Twitter user, evidently NOT Wayne Rooney, has his own view who Tchuna is

The former Arsenal hitman climbed off the bench to fire a spectacular 90-minute strike that sealed a 2-0 victory for the Red Devils at Old Trafford.

United sit top of the Premier League, seven points clear of fierce rivals Manchester City, who sit second.

The goal was van Persie’s 16th in the league this year, comfortably the club’s top-scorer so far.

 There were rumours that the T-Shirt was a tribute to Dutch linesman Richard Nieuwenhuizen who was kicked and beaten to death while officiating a junior football game

By John Hutchinson