Robin van Persie has made his feelings clear towards both Arsenal and Manchester United by refusing to pick between his former clubs.
Arsenal travel to Old Trafford on Sunday to face the Red Devils in the latest iteration of the iconic Premier League fixture. However, the stakes on this occasion will be considerably lower than some of their past encounters due to Arsenal's faltering title charge and United's dire form under Ruben Amorim this season.
Having had successful spells at both the Emirates Stadium and Old Trafford, Van Persie has been a divisive figure in north London since his controversial move to United in 2012. But the Feyenoord head coach demonstrated that his allegiances are still split thanks to his ties to both clubs.
In an interview with ESPN, the Dutchman was asked to choose between former team-mates Wayne Rooney and Thierry Henry. Van Persie sidestepped the question by saying: "Pass because they're both so different and very good."
His diplomatic approach was also evident when faced with choosing between legendary managers Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson, replying: "Definitely both," and, crucially, he remained neutral when pressed to choose between Arsenal and United.
Even when asked to pick between the two clubs' rivals, Manchester City and Spurs, Van Persie couldn't be drawn into an answer, voicing his distaste for both before deciding to pass. The ex-striker netted 132 goals in his 278 games for Arsenal before pushing for a shock move to United, where he won the Premier League in his debut season.
After receiving backlash for the move, Wenger later admitted that Van Persie expressed his desire to return to north London. Speaking about their relationship, Wenger said: "In 2012, he announced his intention not to extend his contract. All the big clubs were courting him. I sold him to Manchester United.
"The supporters were angry with me for this but we could not match the offer. I managed to negotiate his departure for £24 million, which was a huge amount at the time for a player with a year left on his contract. I had only the interest of the club in mind.
Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie signed for Man United in 2012 (Image: Getty Images)
"My relationship with Alex Ferguson and Manchester United had improved by then, but every transfer is a polite game of poker where you attempt to give not anything away.
"Van Persie had a fantastic first six months at Old Trafford: he put the team on track for the Premiership title and made it even more difficult for us."
Wenger continued: "After three years of the four that he signed for, he was injured and Van Gaal sold him to the Turkish club Fenerbahce.
"He called me because he wanted to come back, but it was impossible: he was at the end of his career and we were investing in young players."
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