Former Arsenal and Manchester United striker Robin van Persie appears set to retire at the end of the season
Van Persie returned to first club Feyenoord in January of this year after cancelling his contract with Turkish giants Fenerbahce. Now 35, he’s suggested that it’s likely he will call time on his playing days at the end of the current campaign.
Speaking to AD, the former Dutch international was asked about his plans to hang up his boots.
“When I have to stop? That is probably at the end of this season.
“That was also the approach.
“I will be 36 years old, and will have been a professional for 18 years. From the age of five, I’ve only been involved in football.”
Van Persie added that his decision to return to Feyenoord had helped restore his love for the game – something he lost while in Turkey.
“I had lost the fun. That’s not how I wanted to end, without pleasure. The pleasure has returned to Feyenoord.”
Van Persie left the Rotterdam club for Arsenal when he was 21. He spent eight years with the north London club before a move north to Manchester United.
His first season at Old Trafford coincided with Sir Alex Ferguson’s last, and his goals helped fire United to their 20th Premier League title. He would leave United for Fenerbahce in 2015.
Van Persie also scored 50 goals for the Dutch national side, the most memorable being the spectacular diving header against Spain in the 2014 World Cup.
