Robin van Persie says his emotional attachment to Arsenal convinced him to reject four rival clubs when signing a new contract last summer.
Van Persie, 26, agreed terms on a new long-term contract in July after lengthy negotiations with the club but it is reported that Manchester City, Chelsea, Juventus and Inter Milan all showed interest in a player who has become one of the Premier League's leading strikers since his arrival from Feyenoord in 2004.
Despite the impressive career options placed in front of him, Van Persie says he could not contemplate leaving Arsenal so agreed to extend his contract with Arsene Wenger's side.
"It is good that four teams were really interested in me but I had to turn them down," Van Persie told the News of the World. "It's not as easy to leave Arsenal as you maybe think.
"Even if you want to leave, as a player, I don't think it is easy because when you move to Arsenal you are led there by your heart."
After signing his new contract, Van Persie started the season in stunning fashion and recorded seven goals and seven assists in just 11 Premier League games before suffering a serious ankle injury during an international friendly between Netherlands and Italy in November.
The striker is hoping to return to the first team in April as he recovers from the latest in a long line of injury setbacks at Arsenal. Van Persie's constant fitness problems have been a constant source of frustration to his manager, Arsenal fans and of course the player himself.
"When you look at great players, they are always fit, always sharp," Van Persie said. "When you play 50 games a season, you can score more goals and get more assists, so it follows that you are more important to the team.
"Everything starts with your fitness and some players are lucky like that. I hate it but I can't do anything about it because this is my situation."
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