The 32-year-old – who made his 100th appearance for the Netherlands in their 2-1 Euro 2016 qualifying win over Kazakhstan on Saturday – has also been stripped of the national team captaincy by head coach Danny Blind.
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Such a disagreement should surprise no-one though, as it’s easy to see how a star player like Van Persie, now out of the first XI, would take issue with Depay not passing the ball.
“We have discussed what happened, but that had nothing to do with my decision”, The Guardian quotes Blind as saying. “These things happen often”. I felt that [Van Persie] was not fit enough to start.
‘As a young player I was completely in awe of him.
“Then you talk about it. That’s what happened and then it’s over”.
Ex-Arsenal and Manchester United striker Robin van Persie has spoken of how his former Gunners team-mate Patrick Vieira taught him about mental strength early in his career.
They have to beat the already-qualified Czech Republic and hope that Turkey lose to table-toppers Iceland to clinch third spot and a place in next month’s two-legged play-offs.
“He is pain-free now and feels 100%”.
While Memphis, 21, was substituted against Arsenal, Blind has played nigh on every minute of Premier League action so far this season; the only occasion on which Van Gaal has substituted his converted central defender was during the 3-0 win over Sunderland.
Blind would not confirm whether Van Persie, who came on against Kazakhstan to earn his 100th cap, will start the match.
“That is absolute nonsense”, added Blind. I had to wait for my third substitution for a bit, though.
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“I don’t let anything get to me”, said van Persie.
