Arsene Wenger has revealed that Robin van Persie wanted to return to Arsenal in 2015 but the manager turned down the chance to bring the Dutchman back to north London.
Van Persie became one of the Premier League's top players under Wenger at Arsenal, scoring 132 goals in 278 games after joining from Feyenoord in 2004.
As the Dutch star's contract wound down in 2012 he announced that he would not be signing a new deal with the Gunners, causing plenty of dismay among the club's fans.
Editors' Picks
To make matters worse, Van Persie would be sold to Arsenal's rivals Manchester United later that year, where he would go on to win the Premier League in his first season under Sir Alex Ferguson.