Arsene Wenger has revealed he blocked Robin van Persie's attempts to return to Arsenal after being sold by Manchester United.
The Dutchman joined United for £24million in 2012 on a four-year deal and fired United to the Premier League title in what transpired as Sir Alex Ferguson's last season as manager.
Under David Moyes and then Louis van Gaal, Van Persie struggled to replicate his early form at United that had made him one of the Premier League's most deadly strikers.
After a spate of injuries and with age catching up to him, United sold Van Persie to Fenerbahce in 2015.
Wenger has now revealed that Van Persie phoned him to try and negotiate a return to the Emirates after his time at United was up but the Arsenal boss rejected the chance to bring him back.
"In 2012, he announced his intention not to extend his contract. All the big clubs were courting him," Wenger explained in his new 'Arsene Wenger, My Life in Red and White'.
"I sold him to Manchester United. The supporters were angry with me for this but we could not match the offer.
"I managed to negotiate his departure for £24million, which was a huge amount at the time for a player with a year left on his contract. I had only the interest of the club in mind.
"My relationship with Alex Ferguson and Manchester United had improved by then, but every transfer is a polite game of poker where you attempt to give not anything away.
"Van Persie had a fantastic first six months at Old Trafford: he put the team on track for the Premiership title and made it even more difficult for us.
"But after three years of the four that he signed for, he was injured and Ferguson sold him to the Turkish club Fenerbahce.
"He called me because he wanted to come back, but it was impossible: he was at the end of his career and we were investing in young players."
