Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that he finds it tough to see Robin Van Persie in a Manchester United shirt.
The Gunners sold their star-man to United last Summer for £24million, and straight away, the Dutchman was a hit at Old Trafford and he helped guide the club to yet another Premier League title.
Wenger will come up against Van Persie again when the two sides meet on Sunday, and the Frenchman admits that it is still weird for him seeing the striker in a United shirt.
“Of course it’s strange because for me he is an Arsenal man,” Wenger said.
“I took him when he was a very, very young player. We have gone together through very difficult periods and he became a world-class player and for me he is an Arsenal player.”
The Gunners boss also revealed what went on during that infamous transfer saga.
“Robin van Persie had been convinced by the Dutch coach who was at Manchester United, (so) that played a big part,” Wenger said.
“It was more the fact that I had the conversations I had with Robin van Persie that convinced me, it is not the talk with Alex Ferguson that convinced me to sell Robin van Persie to Man United.
“It is the head-to-head talks I had with van Persie many, many times that convinced me that I had to sell him.
“I think in the end I had to decide ‘do I do it or not?’ knowing I will get huge criticism for doing it. But I just decided because at the end of the day I felt it was the best thing to do.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt