Van Persie: Future unclear

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Zlatan: RvP must leave to win

Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes while Robin van Persie has become a ‘complete’ footballer, the Dutch ace needs to leave Arsenal if he wants to become ‘a real champion’.

Van Persie has been in red-hot form this season as he tops the Premier League goalscoring standings with 22 strikes as well as accepting the role of club captain.

But the Gunners skipper could do nothing to prevent his side’s 4-0 thrashing at AC Milan on Wednesday night in their UEFA Champions League last-16 first leg tie.

With a mountain to climb in the return leg for Arsene Wenger’s side, and an even steeper one for the fourth-placed north Londoners in the league, Ibrahimovic reckons it’s time for Van Persie to abandon ship.

The Milan forward told The Sun: “When you don’t win anything for years, people understand why you leave like Cesc Fabregas.

“Football is all about winning. If you don’t win you want to go. I don’t know Robin personally but I remember him from Holland and what a talent he was - now he is complete.

“I don’t know what he is thinking but I know what I would do.

“I have made a lot of moves in my life - I take it as a challenge, an adventure.

“And I have won eight titles in eight years with different clubs in different countries.

“But if you stay in one place all your life it is easy to play football.

“You are at home, you are in the comfort zone.

“But if you move to five different places it is a real test. If you succeed that’s when you become a real champion, that’s when you get more respect.”