Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie might have played his last game for Arsenal Reuters

Robin van Persie's father has played down talk of the Arsenal captain moving to Manchester City or any other English club, indicating the striker would remain in north London.

There has been intense speculation regarding the Dutchman's future, as his contract with Arsenal runs out next year. The 28 year old was earlier quoted as saying he would reveal his future at the end of the 2011/12 Premier League season but despite having discussions with the Gunners, the player decided to delay his decision.

Manchester City have been heavily linked with a move for van Persie, who finished as top scorer in England last season with 30 league goals. However, the player's father has now dealt a heavy blow to the Citizens' hopes of landing the striker and also dismissed links with Barcelona and Real Madrid.

"He'd never go to Manchester City as it's impossible he would play for another Premier League side that wasn't Arsenal," ESPN quoted Bob van Persie as saying.

"It would make no sense to go to Barcelona when they've already got Leo Messi. Real Madrid would be a good option, but they are not so much a team as a collection of star names, so he wouldn't really fit in there either," he added.

Meanwhile, van Persie's mother and wife opined the Dutch international should stay at Arsenal and the Gunners' chief executive Ivan Gazidis also remained confident the forward would agree to a contract extension after Euro 2012.

Meanwhile, Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has expressed his disappointment after being sent off in the Euro 2012 opener between Poland and Greece on Friday.

With the score level at 1-1 and Greece down to 10 men, the 22 year old was given a straight red card for bringing down Dimitris Salpingidis in the penalty area. However, substitute Przemyslaw Tyton came on and saved the resulting spot-kick much to the home crowd's relief.

"I'm frustrated because no one wants to get sent off in a game like this, one of the biggest of my career so far. But I'm relieved Tyton came on and made that save. If he hadn't it would have been game over," The Sun quoted Szczesny as saying.

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