Robin van Persie vs Oğuzhan Özyakup: Dutchman was banned after savage celebration in 2017

Robin van Persie and Oğuzhan Özyakup were good friends during their time at Arsenal.

Ozyakup came through the youth system at Arsenal and regarded the Dutchman as one of his idols.

However, they had a monumental bust-up during the Istanbul derby in 2017.

On February 5, 2017, Besiktas hosted Fenerbahce for their Turkish Cup clash.

Ozyakup turned out for Besiktas while Van Persie was in the starting lineup for Fenerbahce.

In the 42nd minute, Dusko Tosic was sent off after a clash with Van Persie.

Ozyakup was not happy at all and had words with his former teammate.

Van Persie went on to score the winner in the 72nd minute. He then made sure to get revenge on his former teammate.

Football – Arsenal Training – Arsenal Training Ground – 27/9/11 Arsenal’s Robin van Persie (L) and Oguzhan Ozyakup during training Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Tony O’Brien Livepic

After hitting the back of the net, Van Persie scanned the pitch to find Ozyakup.

After locating the Besiktas midfielder, the Dutchman ran straight towards him and did a knee-slide right in front of him.

It was a savage celebration and you can watch it below…

Van Persie was given a three-match ban for his actions.

Ozyakup slammed his former idol after the game.

He said, per the Sun: “I was very good friends with a certain player on the field. That changed today.

“Sometimes you see the real face of a footballer on the field.”

And, nearly a year after the incident, Ozyakup revealed that the two had still not made up.

“We still do not talk, usually players make up after games but this was different,” he said later that 2017.

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“Maybe we will make up one day but it will not be the same as before. I do not really want to talk about this to be honest.

“I do not think I was in the wrong, if anything I was wrong to show Robin as much respect as I did.”

In 2020, they became teammates at Feyenoord and a video posted by the club’s official account appeared to show that they had resolved their differences.

Regardless, Van Persie’s celebration remains one of the most savage celebrations in recent football history.

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