When I meet Rooney, RVP and Giggsy, I’ll just be so starstruck

Posted Thursday, April 25, 2013 by The Sun

WILFRIED ZAHA finds himself in a weird world torn between Manchester United and Crystal Palace.

When I meet Rooney, RVP and Giggsy, I’ll just be so starstruck Speaking at length for the first time since completing a £15million January move to United, the new England star accepts his immediate priorities are with Palace.

Automatic Championship promotion contenders at one stage, the Eagles are without a win in seven but head to Blackburn on Saturday looking to cement a place in the play-offs.

Yet while admitting the dream is to ensure that Palace earn themselves a place back in the top tier, Zaha accepts it is difficult to look beyond the new champions and Old Trafford, the place he will soon call home.

In the South London pad he currently rents with one of his five brothers, Zaha struggled to hide his enthusiasm ahead of his big move.

He said: “I am just anxious and excited. I cannot wait. It will be something different. When I walk into that dressing room at United, I do not know what I will feel. I will keep my head down as I am there to play football.

“But I have to admit I will be a bit starstruck. Van Persie and Giggs will be in there — wow. Rooney will be in there — amazing. How can I not be looking forward to this?

“I have to be patient. I do not expect to walk in and play week-in week-out. Once I get the chance I will take it.

“Moving to Manchester will be something I have to get used as I have lived in the south of England since I was four.

“I will come down to see my family so I do not think my accent will change!

“At the moment, though, the priority is Crystal Palace.

“I can only assure everyone this is the case. I’ve had a little dip in my performance since I signed for United, I will not deny that. But I have to get back to what I do well.

“People are saying it is the speculation of going to United which saw me struggle. But Robin van Persie went 10 games without scoring but it was one of those things. He was still doing his best and playing a part. Equally, I am desperate to get Palace up.”

Ivory Coast-born Zaha is a confident 20-year-old whose honesty and determination can be incorrectly interpreted as arrogance.

Yet it seems the player with eight siblings will never forget his roots.

He said: “It is difficult to get your head around how quickly this has all happened. Sometimes, I sit here in this very room with my brother Kel and we talk to each other in amazement. How has this happened all so quickly?

“All I can do is keep my head down. I have to try to cope with this success, while doing my best for Palace until the end of the season.

“Back in August the goal was to have a good season. I never thought I’d end the season a Manchester United player.

“Then things started to happen with Palace. While having a meal in November to celebrate my birthday, I got the call-up to the England seniors. I was thinking ‘this is crazy’.

“I was part of the squad which played in Sweden. The England team all said ‘hello’ to me.

“Steven Gerrard came up to me and gave me some advice. He settled me down which was very nice of him as I was a bag of nerves.

“During that England trip, I spoke to Danny Welbeck and he seemed really nice, so maybe going to Manchester for the first time will be a bit easier. Wayne Rooney was not around for that game.

“Then in January, the approach came from United. I spoke to Sir Alex and he was in London with Sir Bobby Charlton.

“They were staying at a hotel in London while the United squad had already gone to Qatar.

“When I first met him, I was thinking it was crazy that Sir Alex was telling me he had been watching me for many years.

“I spoke to my family and knew it was the best thing to go up there and sign.

“The last thing Sir Alex said was to keep working hard and that is what I intend to do.

“Most people have wished me good luck. At the end of one game a ref said ‘good game, Mr United!’”

Yet Zaha knows he will soon live in a goldfish bowl. One which will see every move scrutinised.

He was recently seen pictured out in a T-shirt which read ‘Dope Chef’. Zaha revealed: “Dope is slang for good. Now I think about it I understand why some people may think it means something else. I have no problem in getting rid of the top. I got it sent.”

Yet despite the prospect of playing Champions League football next term, Zaha accepts he needs to put in some more graft for the team he has been with since he was a kid.

He added: “I have gone through the lows with Palace.

“There was a rough patch when I wondered whether there would be a Palace. This club means a lot to me.

“So to be part of the team which gets them to the Premier League would be good.

“And to play against them at Old Trafford would be something.

“I am doing my best. Let’s hope we can get into the play-offs and make the dream come true.”

Either way, though, Zaha’s dreams will soon come true.