Robin Van Persie says he was not offered a new contract by Arsenal before making his famous transfer to Manchester United.
The Dutch striker gave up the captain’s armband to the Gunners in 2012 to join the Red Devils, on a 24 million deal.
Van Persie continued to win the Premier League title in his first season with Manchester United and spent a total of three seasons at Old Trafford.
While his transfer to Manchester United was described as a betrayal by Arsenal fans, Van Persie insisted he had not been offered a new contract to stay in London, but admitted that he regretted the way he had left.
“It wasn’t just me and Arsene Wenger, it was more because of Ivan Gazidis, of course, and the way he behaved throughout that situation,” Van Persie said.
“If I go back to assessing that situation, I have to look at what I could have done better or differently. That open letter. I shouldn’t have done that. “
“In such a delicate and difficult situation of a transfer sage, after spending so much time at Arsenal, making a decision to write an open letter about my truth on two pages was impossible.”
“And partly because Arsenal didn’t offer me a new contract. So when I came back to think about it, I should have behaved better. “
“I can promise you for the head of my children, if someone comes with evidence that Arsenal offered me a new contract, I would give you a million pounds right now.”
