- Arsenal legend was initially overlooked by Tottenham as a young talent
- Robin van Persie scored 132 goals for the Gunners before leaving.
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Robin van Persie was denied a move to Tottenham before joining Arsenal after making a substitute appearance in a match in which Spurs’ recruiters walked away.
The Dutchman is a Premier League legend after scoring 132 goals for the Gunners during a clinical career in London before leading Manchester United to Premier League title glory.
Van Persie was a constant thorn in the side of Spurs during his prolific spell at Arsenal, scoring five goals against the club’s arch-rivals, who were sorry to miss the chance to sign him during the icon’s defining years.
The 41-year-old was signed by Arsene Wenger as a youngster at Eredivisie giants Feyenoord, who he later managed, and former Tottenham boss and sporting director David Pleat has explained how and why Spurs decided not to try sign Van Persie. .
Pleat ended his more than 20-year association with Spurs in July when the club reorganized its scouting department and revealed how he was once responsible for evaluating a young Van Persie.
Robin van Persie became an Arsenal icon after being snubbed as a youngster by Tottenham.
Former Spurs boss and sporting director David Pleat (left) revealed he watched Van Persie at Feyenoord before joining Arsenal.
Van Persie scores 132 goals for the Gunners during a clinical Premier League run in London
“Then, as Tottenham’s director of football, I went to Feyenoord to watch Robin van Persie,” Pleat said. FourFourTwo.
“He came on as a substitute, with his shirt out of his shorts, his socks rolled up and looking a real mess.
“Steve Rowley at Arsenal had decided not to sign him, but they looked again and decided to take a risk,” he added.
Tottenham’s loss was Arsenal’s gain, albeit a limited one when he decided to leave the club and join Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man United in their quest to become Premier League champions.
Van Persie later turned his back on Arsenal to join Man United, where he won the Premier League title.
Van Persie scored 26 top-flight goals during his debut season at Old Trafford to claim his 13th Premier League title and the last of Ferguson’s glorious reign.
Coincidentally, the club has not achieved English champion status since 2013, with current manager Erik ten Hag’s position under scrutiny as United bosses weigh up whether to keep him in charge amid a poor run of form.
