Robin van Persie can't hide true feelings with comments on shock Arsenal return

Robin van Persie has admitted he does not expect to return to at all because fans are still "sensitive" about his move to .

spent eight years at Arsenal between 2004 and 2012, before announcing he would not be signing a new contract and completing a transfer to rivals United. The striker went on to win the in his first season at Old Trafford, netting 26 goals in 38 games

Since retiring from football in 2019, Van Persie has moved into coaching and he was appointed head coach of SC Heerenveen back in May. During an interview with , Van Persie was asked about potentially returning to Arsenal one day.

However, the 41-year-old believes it will never happen due to resentment over his departure. "I don't expect to work at Arsenal. I think that door is closed," Van Persie admitted. "Because of my switch to Manchester United, that is my assessment.

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"You never know in football, but that is my assessment. It is still sensitive for them, not for me. It is especially sensitive for the Arsenal fans. I have learned that planning so far ahead makes no sense at all. I don't want that either.

"I mainly live in the here and now. I really enjoy it here and I am very proud to be the coach of SC Heerenveen. I feel very welcome within the club and among the fans. I also think that is important that you feel welcome."

Van Persie has previously admitted the only reason he decided to swap Arsenal for United was because he wanted to win the league, with a potential move to blocked. "At Arsenal, I didn't feel like we were on the level to compete," Van Persie told in 2020.

"One day, the chairman of Arsenal showed me how healthy the club was by showing me their positive numbers. I told him: 'I don't give a s*** about these numbers, I want to lift the Premier League trophy.

"We felt it would be best to leave for a club outside of England, the deal with Juventus was closed. But the chairman of Arsenal was stubborn towards Juventus. I told him that my other two other options were Manchester United or , so it's his own risk.

"My departure from Arsenal to Manchester United is still a sensitive topic in England. But I wanted to win, I just wanted to win. And I had to take a risk for that."

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