Robin van Persie’s transfer to Manchester United in 2012 was a major disappointment to Thomas Vermaelen.
“It was a surprise he left,” Vermaelen said to Arsenal’s official podcast. “I knew he was going to go in the end, but to hear that he had suddenly left for Manchester United was a big surprise.”
The long-time Arsenal defender acknowledging that he had expected that the Dutch player to go on to become “a hero” at the Emirate Stadium:
“I wanted him to remain at Arsenal, of course, as he was the PFA Player of the Year in his last season with us. He’s had a brilliant season, the best season of his career, so I wanted him to stay and be a legend.”
He soon came to terms with it, as he said, “Of course, he has a strong character so he couldn’t change his position. I think that’s a great position, because that makes him the person and the player he is. You couldn’t change his opinion, he made it that he was going to go.”
