Manchester United striker Robin Van Persie has paid tribute to his former manager Arsene Wenger – and new boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
The 29-year-old Dutch international midfielder made the move from the Emirates Stadium to Old Trafford in the summer transfer window, with the Red Devils paying £24 million to take the player from their Premier League rival.
Van Persie is now one of the few players to represent both clubs – Mikael Silvestre is the only other to play for Arsenal and Manchester United in the Wenger-Ferguson era – and he's happy to pay both managers a fitting tribute.
"I am the only player who can judge what it's like working with Arsene and Sir Alex. It is an absolute privilege to say that in my career I have had both these managers at the clubs I have played for," Van Persie is quoted as saying on SkySports.
"They are both icons as managers in football. They are both world class, one not more nor less than the other. I purely look at this comparison as a footballer. I look at the way they both work on the pitch, in training, at the club and off the field.
"I had a fantastic time with Arsene. I enjoyed training, playing, talking and all the other times I spent with him. I love it that I now experience the same with Sir Alex. But what I love about both managers is that they came to their clubs for a good cause. They both wanted to be at the club for a really long time."
Van Persie became an icon at Arsenal during his eight-years with the club, hitting particularly good form with the Gunners in his final year-and-a-half with the club.
That tempted Ferguson into a move to bring the player to Manchester United, and the striker has certainly hit the ground running for his new club, most notably notching a hat-trick in the win over Southampton. He'll look to add further to his current total against Chelsea today (Sunday).
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