Robin van Persie has finally spoken about his Manchester United departure five years after.

The striker, who is now a football pundit, admits he planned to see out the final year of his contract at Old Trafford.

However, a chat with his compatriot Louis van Gaal, who was Man United’s Manager at the time, changed everything.

“I had this chat with Louis van Gaal and he told me: ‘OK Robin, our ways will part. I’m the coach, you’re the player – you have to go, your time is up’,” Van Persie told the High Performance Podcast.

“I was like: ‘Yeah but I still have a contract?’ He said: ‘I don’t care’.

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“Ruthless. Towards the end of it, I saw something coming but not this ruthless. And the way he said it as well. And then a lot of things go through your mind when you get a message like that.

Van Persie arrived at United from Arsenal for an initial £22.5 million fee in 2012, signing a four-year deal.

He netted 26 times in his first 36 Premier League appearances, to help the Red Devils secure the title.