Fenerbahce and Dutch forward Robin van Persie, prior to the Turkish side’s 4-1 defeat at Old Trafford to former side Manchester United in the Europa League, said he was proud of his time in England with both Arsenal and Manchester United.
The striker notched a consolation goal for Fenerbahce in the last ten minutes of the game, receiving a warm round of applause from the United faithful on his scoring return to Manchester.
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Van Persie moved to Arsenal in 2004 from Feyenoord after a fall out with manager Bert van Marwjik and spent 8 seasons with the Gunners winning an FA Cup medal and a Community Shield before making a controversial switch to Manchester United where he helped seal his first and United’s 20th Premier League trophy in his first year at the club.
His switch from London to Manchester was met with bitterness from the Arsenal faithful who felt betrayed by their captain’s move but van Persie claims he has no regrets over his career in England and calls it a successful period.
“I look back on my 11 years in England and I’m proud of those years – eight at Arsenal and three at Manchester United,” said the Dutchman. “My kids were born in England so we still speak mainly in English to them. I had ups and downs here. I was practically raised here myself.”
“I came as a 20-year-old boy and left only last year. Lots of things happened in those years and I’m proud of my time here,” he went on to add.
The 33-year-old went on to speak about his love for England, not just on the pitch, but off it as well. “I like England a lot. I still do. I like English manners, the English way of living and I try to take all those positives into the way we live now. So it’s not only the way I left or what went wrong or right – it’s the bigger picture for me,” he was quoted as saying.
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The Dutchman, now 33, has found himself out of favour from Danny Blind’s national side and has not received a call-up for International duty since the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup commenced. With Dick Advocaat now the manager of Fenerbahce, Robin van Persie is looking to rediscover some of the form that saw him crowned the top scorer of the Premier League on multiple occasions.
A man with a lot more football left in his boots, Robin van Persie is eyeing more call-ups to represent his country in what would be his fourth World Cup appearance if the Netherlands do qualify for Russia and provided the then 35-year-old flying Dutchman makes the squad.
(Video courtesy: hicksyboi_97 YouTube channel)
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