Former Manchester United and Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has vented his feelings towards his former boss at Old Trafford.  The 31-year-old forward did not have many positives words to say about Louis van Gaal following his switch to the Turkish club Fenerbahce.

Van Persie suggested that there was a turning point in his relationship with the United manager after an April Premier League match against Chelsea, a game in which the star striker was left on the bench during a 1-0 defeat to the eventual league champions.

“I asked to play in the reserves, to get my minutes, but after was on the bench again,” van Persie told the Sunday Times.  “The atmosphere changed between me and Louis and people at the club saw it, but I was always professional.”

“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 number three striker.’ I was, ‘O…K…’ but I fought and became the number one and his captain.”

The forward continued, ”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.”

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“I know Louis as a national team coach and now I get to know him as a club coach.  And there is a difference.”

While van Persie’s relationship with van Gaal wasn’t great, the former Arsenal player claimed that he has the utmost respect for Gunner manager Arsene Wenger.  “Arsene is my football father,” said van Persie.  “He raised me from being a little kid, as a footballer. What he does, for players young and old, is create an environment where you feel the trust like one big family.”

“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. Trust, respect, that goes two ways.  That’s what Arsène gives, what Sir Alex gives, that’s what the great managers give you.”

Van Persie left the north London club in 2012 after disagreeing with the team’s brass “on the way Arsenal FC should move forward.”  Nonetheless, Arsenal captured more trophies over the last three seasons than van Persie did during his time with Manchester United.

The Netherlands international moves to Turkey following 11 seasons in the Premier League (eight with Arsenal and three with Manchester United).  Van Persie scored 190 goals during his time in England and won the FA Cup with the Gunners in 2005 and the Premier League title in his first season with United.