Van Persie shares what Wenger said to him after Feyenoord move

Ex-Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has revealed that his former manager Arsene Wenger wished him good luck after he took his new role with Feyenoord.

Former Arsenal and Manchester United striker Robin van Persie has been rapidly making the transition into management since his retirement from playing in 2019.

The Dutch international first worked as an assistant at Feyenoord, then coached their youth teams, before moving on to take a head coach role with fellow Eredivisie side Heerenveen last year.

Nine months later, van Persie is returning back to Feyenoord to become their head coach, signing a contract until 2027.

Van Persie obviously has a history at Arsenal, making more appearances and scoring more goals for the Gunners than any other team. But many fans remember the striker less than fondly, given his decision to leave for Manchester United.

Former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger evidently isn’t holding a grudge, with van Persie revealing that his old manager had wished him the best with his Feyenoord job.

“Wenger congratulated me and wished me good luck,” van Persie said. “I think that’s beautiful! Wenger is kind of my ‘football dad’. That’s how I see him.”

Van Persie almost ended up getting an immediate reunion with Arsenal as Feyenoord’s new manager, with the Gunners having a 50/50 chance to draw the Dutch side in the last-16 of the Champions League.

But with Arsenal drawing PSV Eindhoven instead, they now can’t meet Feyenoord in this season’s Champions League unless both teams reach the final.