"I've never seen people so professional" - Evra reveals how Van Persie reacted to training at Manchester United after leaving Arsenal

Manchester United legend Patrice Evra has revealed how Robin van Persie criticised Arsenal's work ethic in comparison to the Red Devils after he arrived at Old Trafford in 2012.

The iconic Dutch striker made a shock £24 million to Sir Alex Ferguson's side from the Gunners. He was a massive success, scoring 30 goals and providing 15 assists in his debut campaign with the Red Devils. He was a catalyst for Ferguson to bow out of Old Trafford with the Premier League title.

Van Persie had spent eight glorious seasons at Arsenal before the move, scoring 132 goals in 278 games. The Dutch icon noticed a massive change in the level of training on arriving at Manchester United. Evra detailed that in an interview with Rio Ferdinand on Vibe with FIVE:

"Robin, he'd say: "Patrice, I've never seen people so professional. Training the way you're training in the training session. He'd say he'd finish the training session, everyone is in the gym. Before training in the gym, after training in the gym."

Van Persie was particularly surprised by the work ethic of the players in comparison to his former Gunners teammates. Evra added:

"That's why he was like "when I was playing at Arsenal, I was still on the pitch, and I'd see kids with convertible cars already going to Harrods or whatever."'

The former Netherlands international didn't win the Premier League with Arsenal. He won the Golden Boot twice, including his last season at the Emirates, scoring 30 goals. Van Persie finished top goalscorer again in the first campaign at Old Trafford, netting 26 times. A move to Manchester United provided Van Persie with the league title he desired.

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Van Persie reveals reason for joining Manchester United from Arsenal

Van Persie said that he made the move to Ferguson's side to play alongside serial winners and under the legendary Scottish coach. He told Premier League Productions in 2020:

"Ferguson made the difference for me in my choice to choose Manchester United."

He continued by alluding to the opportunity to play alongside proven winners like Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand:

"I really wanted to win, and when I look at that team of Giggs, Carrick, Scholes, Vidic, Ferdinand, they were all winners; they won it all. I was like ‘I want to be part of that’. I was in that period of my life where I felt like a winner, but I wasn’t, so I had to win. I needed to go to a team that knew how to win."

Van Persie only spent one season under Ferguson, as the Scot retired in 2013. He left Manchester United in 2015 after falling out of favour with his former Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal, who later took the reins at Old Trafford. 'RVP' is now in charge of Feyenoord's youth team and has been making casual visits to the Red Devils.