Why Robin van Persie is spending this week at Manchester United’s training ground

Robin van Persie has been welcomed back to this week in order to complete part of his coaching badges at the club’s Carrington training ground.

The 40-year-old, who has been a youth coach at Feyenoord since 2020, was spotted at Old Trafford on Sunday to watch his old club secure a 3-0 victory over .

A day later, on Monday evening, he spent four hours at a restaurant with United manager and his agent Kees Vos in the evening.

Now have revealed that Van Persie will spend the rest of the week at Carrington to complete a mandatory element of his UEFA Pro License.

As part of the license, the Dutch FA require coaches to spend time at a foreign club and Van Persie opted for United despite spending eight years at Arsenal where he was actually briefly team-mates with current boss Mikel Arteta.

Ten Hag approved his compatriot’s request to visit Carrington, where he will be allowed to watch training and conduct interviews with staff.

In addition to observing Ten Hag’s first-team sessions, he will also workshop with the former Ajax boss as well as his assistant, Mitchell van der Gaag, and football director John Murtough.

Two other coaches from the Netherlands will also be joining Van Persie at Carrington to complete the course.

Van Persie, who is in charge of Feyenoord’s Under-18 side, clearly still has a great affinity towards United and was to watch their comeback victory against Aston Villa.

Speaking to MUTV at the time, he said: ‘It’s always nice to be back. I feel that (being part of the Manchester United family) not only in the stadium but I feel it in the streets.

‘This afternoon I was walking in Deansgate and the love the Manchester fans still give me is incredible.

‘Obviously, it was a bit of a coincidence that I’m here now with my wife and friends.

‘When I looked at the schedule I was like if I can pick that game, I will pick that game because of course our sort of shared memories we have against Villa.

‘It was one of the most special nights personally as a Manchester United player. Villa is doing well this year so it’s a nice game to watch.’

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