Ex-Manchester United and Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has blasted his previous boss and compatriot Louis van Gaal in an interview with the Sunday Times.
The 31-year-old Netherlands international made a surprise move to Turkisj club Fenerbahce a few weeks back. The forward became out of favour at Old Trafford since the second half of this season. He was out of action for a considerable period of time last season due to an ankle injury. His comeback to the side was not very highlighting as the manager kept him on the bench in most of the occasion. He had just started in 3 games in the last three months of the season.
Constant injury crisis and a dip in his form forced Louis van Gaal to send him out of the team this summer. But it seems the striker is not happy with how he was sold. He indirectly blamed Van Gaal for his form dip and stressed on the fact that he was not given due to repect by the manager.
Robin van Persie said:That was one of the first signals things weren’t going in the right direction.
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. At that point I didn’t think to leave. [Van Persie’s wife] Bouchra was happy. The kids were happy. I was happy in Manchester.
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.