Arsene Wenger has sensationally revealed how Robin van Persie got in touch with him to try and arrange a return to Arsenal from Manchester United in 2015.
Van Persie spent eight years with the Gunners between 2004 and 2012 but controversially departed the Emirates for fierce rivals United in his quest for the Premier League title.
His move to Old Trafford sparked fury among Arsenal supporters, and in his first season at United, Van Persie lifted the Premier League after starring in the title run.
However, after Sir Alex Ferguson's departure things were never quite the same again for Van Persie and he found himself playing a bit-part role in 2015 under Louis van Gaal, and was looking for a move away.
Speaking about Van Persie in his new autobiography, 'Arsene Wenger: My Life in Red and White', the legendary French manager revealed: '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 £24million, 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.
'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 not give 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.
'But after three years of the four that he signed for, he was injured and Ferguson [note: it was actually Louis 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.'
By that time, there was no turning back for Van Persie due to Arsenal fans' ill-feeling towards him following his departure to United.
The former Dutch striker scored 132 times for the Gunners in 278 matches, winning one FA Cup in 2005 and finishing a Champions League runner-up a year later.
However, Van Persie decided to seek a move to United in order to fight for the biggest honours in European football.
During his time at Old Trafford, Van Persie won the Premier League in his first season under Sir Alex Ferguson, in which he finished top scorer in the top-flight with 26 goals to his name.
But just two years later, Van Persie found himself on the fringes and would eventually move to Turkish outfit Fenerbahce in 2015
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