Robin van Persie: I wasn't given 'honest' chance by Louis van Gaal at Manchester United

Van Persie completed a move to Fenerbahce earlier this week after falling out of favour at Old Trafford and in a fascinating interview with The Sunday Times has given an insight into how his relationship with Van Gaal broke down.

The striker was Van Gaal’s Netherlands captain during the 2014 World Cup and was expected to assume a senior role upon the coach’s arrival at United, but instead he gradually became more and more marginalised.

“I know Louis as a national team coach and now I get to know him as a club coach,” Van Persie told the Sunday Times. “And there is a difference.”

Van Persie goes on to explain how he talked with Van Gaal at a club golf day in May and realised that his future looked uncertain.

“But I was still thinking we could come back from holiday and start from scratch,” he said. “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.”

Van Persie also told The Times that he saw where things were heading when he was left on the bench when United lost 1-0 to Chelsea on April 18.

“That was one of the first signals things weren’t going in the right direction,” Van Persie said. “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. Bouchra was happy. The kids were happy. I was happy in Manchester.”

The Dutchman, who says he wants to end his career in England, also hinted to The Times that Van Gaal did not manage his fitness properly.

Van Persie has struggled throughout his career with injury but in his final season at Arsenal and first season at United he appeared unencumbered by fitness concerns. Under Van Gaal, though, he was back in the treatment room.

“The World Cup was very intense, physically and mentally, especially as a captain,” Van Persie said. “Maybe I needed one more week’s break before the season. Over Christmas I played three games in six days, full games, and my (ankle) tendon got inflamed but I kept playing, taking painkillers, to help the team.

“I think it was just extreme tiredness (injuring his ankle against Swansea in February). That was one of the tricks of Arsene and Sir Alex. Sir Alex knew exactly how he would handle Rio or Giggsy or Scholesy. That’s how they played on so long. Arsene knew exactly how he would manage Bergkamp. That is a managing skill and not every coach has that skill.”