LONDON – Arsenal has agreed terms to sell its captain Robin van Persie to Manchester United, the two Premier League rivals said on their websites Wednesday. The Dutch striker will travel to Manchester Thursday to discuss personal terms and complete a medical ahead of the proposed move to Old Trafford. No financial details were immediately available from the clubs. Media reports said United would pay 24 million pounds ($37.67 million) for Van Persie who is poised to sign a four-year contract with them. The 29-year-old, who had also attracted interest from the Premier League champions Manchester City and Juventus, said last month he would not extend his contract at Arsenal. He had one year left on his deal after eight years with the club. Van Persie scored 37 goals last season as Arsenal finished third in the league and reached the last 16 of the Champions League. But the club has not won a trophy since the 2005 FA Cup final defeat of United. At Old Trafford Van Persie would link up with England striker Wayne Rooney as Alex Ferguson's team try to take the title back from their city rivals. United has made only one major signing since the end of last season, Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa joining from German champion Borussia Dortmund. Capello begins with a draw In Moscow, Russia's newly-appointed Italian manager Fabio Capello recorded a 1-1 draw in his debut match with the country's national team – a friendly against Ivory Coast Wednesday. CSKA Moscow modfielder Alan Dzagoev scored for Russia, while Saint-Etienne's Max Gradel was on target for the visitors to record a draw in the two teams' first ever head-to-head meeting. In Tokyo, Asian soccer champion Japan was held 1-1 by Venezuela Wednesday in the first of two warm-up matches before the resumption of the final round of regional World Cup qualifiers. Yasuhito Endo put the Blue Samurai in front in the 14th minute at a sellout Sapporo Dome. Spain-based striker Miku pegged Japan back, twisting while on the ground to deftly poke the loose ball past goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima with the outside of his right boot. Zambia loses African champion Zambia lost in South Korea 1-2 and Ghana drew in China 1-1 Wednesday, as they prepared for Cup of Nations qualifiers next month. — Agencies
