The former Netherlands international left the Gunners in acrimonious circumstances in the summer of 2012 when he openly criticised Arsene Wenger’s transfer policy and claimed Arsenal were incapable of matching his ambition.
United ultimately beat Manchester City to his signature, agreeing a £24million deal for a player who had just over a year remaining on his contract.
Van Persie was an instant hit at his new club, but after enjoying so many battles against the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and the like, he was unsure how he would be received in the dressing room.
‘There was a question from my point of view as well, before I signed, just to check how the older players were looking at me coming to play there,’ Van Persie told United’s official website.
Robin van Persie’s goals fired Manchester United to the 2012/13 title (Picture: Getty) ‘I wanted to know if they were ok with it or not, because we had been competing for the last eight years and we are all human. ‘What was important for me was that the guys would accept me as the player and person that I am.
After I checked that, everything was positive.’ Asked how he found out what his new team-mates thought of him, Van Persie added: ‘Through [Rene] Meulensteen, the assistant coach. He did that and everyone was very positive.
After that, it was like the training sessions were different – because it is different with every coach, it is not better or worse, it is just different.
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