The Netherlands and Manchester United striker has struggled with a series of injuries in recent years and says he cannot recall a game where he has not been in pain
Robin van Persie has revealed that he has been playing through the pain barrier in “every single game” for the past six years.
The Netherlands striker endured an injury-plagued eight-year spell at Arsenal before joining Manchester United in 2012 and made just 21 appearances for the club last season, with groin and hamstring injuries repeatedly ruling him out of games.
And he has now revealed that he “can’t think of one game” where he has not had to cope with some sort of injury.
“I’ve been playing in pain for the last five or six years; every single game,” he told reporters.
“I can’t really think of one game where I didn’t have a niggle or pain somewhere.
‘I’m used to that. I know, together with the team and with the medical staff, how to deal with that.
“I’m the one who looks at that and manages that.”
Van Persie was substituted during the Netherlands’ World Cup warm-up win over Wales last week as a precaution but he has allayed fears that he could head to Brazil in an unfit state.
“You can’t really even call it an injury,” he insisted.
Van Persie and co will face Spain, Chile and Australia in Group B of the showpiece.
