Alisher Usmanov: 'Selling Robin van Persie to Manchester United was a mistake'

Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov has said that selling Robin van Persie to Manchester United in the summer was a "mistake".

The 29-year-old Dutchman joined the Red Devils on a £24m deal and has scored 12 goals in 17 Premier League appearances for Sir Alex Ferguson's side so far this season.

"I always tell Mr [Arsene] Wenger he is one of the best coaches and football managers in the world, but I openly admit he has many, many difficulties to contend with," Usmanov told CNBC.

"This decision [of selling Van Persie] was a mistake. If I am one of Wenger's players, I would want to stay for the finish, but he explained Robin wanted to go to win trophies."

Usmanov's Red & White Holdings group has a 29.9% stake in Arsenal.