Robin van Persie opens up on managers he played under in England

Robin van Persie has opened up on his 11-year spell in England in a candid interview with The Sunday Times, describing Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger as two of the greatest managers in the game. The 31-year-old also spoke at length about the unravelling of his relationship with United manager Louis van Gaal that led to him making the move to Turkey with Fenerbahce.

Arsene Wenger is my football father and Sir Alex a genius: Van Persie

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger signed Van Persie as a 20-year-old from Feyenoord and the Dutchman says he has nothing but respect for the Frenchman under whom he played eight seasons before making the move to Manchester United.

“Arsène is my football father. He raised me from being a little kid, as a footballer," Van Persie said. "What he does, for players young and old, is create an environment where you feel the trust like one big family."

The Dutchman maintained that there was no animosity between the pair when he decided to make the move to Old Trafford.

“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," he said.

Van Persie enjoyed tremendous success in the lone season he got to play under Sir Alex Ferguson and the forward looks back fondly on the time he got to spend with the Scotsman

“Sometimes he’d come in and say, ‘Excite me. Try a pass over 40 metres. Try a dribble. I don’t care if it goes wrong. I want to sit on the edge of my chair. Please excite me. And make the game quicker, please,” Van Persie said. “Fergie always made you express yourself. He was a genius.”

Van Persie reveals breakdown of his relationship with Van Gaal

Robin van Persie has played under Louis van Gaal for both Netherlands and Manchester United

Van Persie went on to explain how his once strong relationship with Van Gaal went bitter and said that being left an unused substitute against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge was a turning point.

“That was one of the first signals (that) things weren’t going in the right direction,” he said. “I (was) asked to play in the reserves, to get my minutes, but after (that) 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. “

The Dutch pair held talks at United’s annual golf day in May and Van Persie said that even though he realised his chances were limited, he was prepared to fight for his spot at United.

He said: “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,’ but I fought and became the No 1 and his captain. But when I came back, it wasn’t an honest battle anymore. 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.”