The peculiar explanation behind Spurs' failure to secure the signature of Premier League icon who excelled with Arsenal and Man Utd

Arsene Wenger secured the signing of the Dutchman in 2004, who went on to score over a hundred goals for the Gunners during his time at the club. However, their relationship turned sour and he made a controversial move to United after eight successful years with Arsenal.

Van Persie’s predatory instincts helped fire United to the title in his first season at the club and helped Sir Alex Ferguson enjoy the perfect end to his Old Trafford reign.

Prior to his exploits in England, Van Persie honed his skills at Feyenoord where he started out as a precocious and often hot-tempered winger.

Arsenal ultimately were the first to really benefit from his talents, but it all could have been very different had their north London rivals been more decisive when they scouted Van Persie at the same time.

‘Then as a director of football, at Tottenham, I went to Feyenoord to see Robin van Persie,’ Spurs legend David Pleat told FourFourTwo.

‘He came on as a sub, shirt out of his shorts, socks rolled down, looking a right mess.’

‘Steve Rowley at Arsenal had decided not to sign him, but they went for a second look and decided to take a chance,’ he added.

Van Persie was far from the only high-profile signing Pleat missed out on during his illustrious career with two eighties legends also having slipped through his grasp;

He said: ‘John Barnes’ agent told me he was leaving Watford: £750,000, But I had Waddle and Hoddle. I didn’t take Barnes and he went to Liverpool.

‘At Luton we had Stuart Pearce training for a week with the reserves when he was at Wealdstone; I asked the coach what he was like and he said, ‘OK.’ I should’ve played him in an 11 vs 11 and made everyone play properly: then we would have seen his character.