Former Manchester United and Arsenal star Robin van Persie has revealed all on his relationships with Louis van Gaal and Arsene Wenger, reports the Daily Express.
The 31-year-old had some very differing opinions on the pair, lamenting the breakdown in relations he experienced with the Red Devils boss before his exit. These comments come after the Netherlands international completed his move to Fenerbahce. 18,000 fans welcomed him to the Turkish club, and he seems to already be a crowd favourite.
Van Persie’s United career took a turn after he was left on the bench during the team’s 1-0 loss to Chelsea in April.
“That was one of the first signals things weren’t going in the right direction,” he said, “I asked to play in the reserves, to get my minutes, but after was on the bench again. The atmosphere changed between me and Louis and people at the club saw it, but I was always professional.
“But I was still thinking we could come back from holiday and start from scratch. He had changed his mind about me before. When he took over Holland he said to me ‘You’re the No 3 striker.’ I was ‘O…K…’ but I fought and became the No 1 and his captain.
“But when I came back, it wasn’t an honest battle any more. Fighting to get back in the team wasn’t given me as an option. He was sending me to Pitch Two. And I’m a mature player. I’m not stupid. I didn’t get angry or emotional. These things are part of football, part of life. You have to make the best out of any situation so I’m doing this by moving on.
“I know Louis as a national team coach and now I get to know him as a club coach. And there is a difference.”
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The Dutchman was far nicer about Wenger, but couldn’t resist another sly dig at van Gaal before the end by insinuating he wasn’t a great manager.
“Arsene is my football father,” van Persie continued, “He raised me from being a little kid, as a footballer. What he does, for players young and old, is create an environment where you feel the trust like one big family.
“People think there was an argument between us.. On the contrary we always had a lot of respect for each other. We just had some different views at the time and I’m still talking to Arsene regularly now. He is a world class coach and manager and above all, a classy man.
“Trust, respect, that goes two ways. That’s what Arsène gives, what Sir Alex gives, that’s what the great managers give you.”
The striker managed ten goals in 29 appearances for United in the last campaign, with injury troubles that had featured earlier in his career seeming to return. He will now be wanting to play regularly in the Super Lig to make sure that he can get in to the Netherlands squad for Euro 2016.