FORMER Arsenal skipper Robin van Persie has revealed he was left incensed after the club tried to convince him to stay by showing him their financial results.
The 37-year-old went into the summer of 2012 having enjoyed his most fruitful campaign to date after banging in 37 goals.
Robin van Persie departed Arsenal for Manchester United in 2012Credit: Action Images – Reuters
Van Persie was instrumental as United won the Premier League title in his first campaign at Old TraffordCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But to his frustration, the Gunners yet again finished the season without a trophy, while they finished 19 points behind Premier League champions Manchester City.
Arsenal were desperate to keep hold of their talisman who had just one year left on his contract, but the player left in search of silverware.
And he achieved that in his first season at Manchester United as he spearheaded the club to the top-flight title with 26 league goals.
Speaking to Dutch presenter Kaj Gorgels, Van Persie lifted the lid on how he was left seething following a conversation with then-Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood.
He said: “At Arsenal, I didn’t feel like we were on the level to compete.
“One day, the chairman of Arsenal showed me how healthy the club was by showing me their positive numbers.
“I told him: “I don’t give a s*** about these numbers, I want to lift the Premier League trophy.
However United wasn’t Van Persie’s first choice, as he stated that he was keen on a move to Serie A champions Juventus.
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He admitted: “We felt it would be best to leave for a club outside of England, the deal with Juventus was closed.
“But the chairman of Arsenal was stubborn towards Juventus. I told him that my other two other options were Manchester United or Manchester City, so it’s his own risk.”
“My departure from Arsenal to Manchester United is still a sensitive topic in England.
“But I wanted to win, I just wanted to win. And I had to take a risk for that.”
The ex-Feyenoord ace also revealed how he urged Arsene Wenger to sign defender Giorgio Chiellini, but his pleas were ignored.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
