Why Robin van Persie rejected Man Utd and Erik ten Hag for top Liverpool target Arne Slot

Arne Slot and Robin van Persie work together at Feyenoord. (Image: Getty)

It would have been a huge call for Robin van Persie to turn down a role at Manchester United when Erik ten Hag took over as manager in 2022, but a certain Pep Guardiola appears the reason why. The Dutchman, still revered at Old Trafford for his role in their 2012/13 Premier League title win, has been coaching at Feyenoord since 2020 and is currently in charge of their under-18 and under-19 sides.

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And last season, he laid the foundations for a career in management by visiting the Manchester City training ground to view the work of Guardiola as his side chased an historic treble. City would famously go on to complete that feat, beating Inter Milan in June to secure their first Champions League title having already captured the Premier League and FA Cup.

By then, ‘RVP’ had already rejected the chance to return to United, having been approached by Ten Hag when his Dutch compatriot left Ajax for Manchester. But citing the need to continue his coaching education in Holland before completing his UEFA Pro Licence this summer, Van Persie opted to remain with the club where he started his distinguished playing career.

His motivation to remain loyal would undoubtedly have been enhanced by the notion of Arne Slot being in charge of the first-team. The 45-year-old is currently being linked with a move to Liverpool having emerged as one of the lead contenders for the role after the Reds were rejected by Xabi Alonso.

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Erik ten hag offered Van Persie a role at Manchester United. (Image: Getty)

Van Persie, 40, has previously spoken of his intentions to mould his future teams in the same manner that Guardiola does, saying last year: “I want my team to be really attacking because then you have the best chance of winning.”

It’s a mantra that Slot has also adopted, both with his current club and AZ, who he coached before being dismissed in late 2020 with club bosses discontent over his negotiations with Feyenoord. Widely described as a ‘disciple of Guardiola’, he’s since captured the 2022/23 Eredivisie title with the Rotterdam based club, and the KNVB Cup in this campaign.

He also took them to the Europa Conference League final in 2021/22, where they were beaten 1-0 by Jose Mourinho’s Roma. Retaining their top-flight crown in Holland this season appears beyond them given the nine-point deficit to PSV, but a second-placed finish is all but guaranteed.

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And the club’s future appears bright amid the work Van Persie has done with the under-19 side. The youngsters reached the last-16 of the Champions Youth League this season after topping their group, narrowly knocked out 2-1 in a one-off tie with Bayern Munich.

But the player who struck 144 times in the Premier League for Arsenal and United has remained grounded, insisting he will not rush his path into management. “I don't see myself as one of the best coaches just yet. It was only two years back that I started on the path of being a coach and I do feel that I am doing well” he told the Irish Mirror last September. “I put a lot of time and energy into it but I am not there yet.”

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