© Getty Images Enlarge Robin van Persie captained the Netherlands to a third-place finish at this summer's World Cup

New Netherlands manager Guus Hiddink has called for Robin van Persie to grow up and settle his differences with Pierre van Hooijdonk.

Van Hooijdonk, a new addition to the Dutch coaching team, rubbed captain Van Persie up the wrong way by criticising the striker during this summer's World Cup, in which the Netherlands finished third.

The Manchester United forward responded angrily and suggested Van Hooijdonk "doesn't speak with a good heart" and "should play golf instead", but Hiddink is planning on sitting the pair down in the near future so they can resolve their differences.

Hiddink told the Sun: "There's going to be a discussion between Van Hooijdonk and Van Persie. They should sit down together like grown men, bang their heads together and speak their minds as guys should. I plan to schedule a meeting between them soon.

"I'm happy Van Hooijdonk will be working with the Under-21s. He is the type of player up-and-coming youngsters can use as an example. There is something from the past between him and me and everyone who knows me realises that I prefer to deal with secret matters openly.

"We have to sit down like big boys and clear them out of the way. I want to do that soon. Van Persie is captain of the team at the moment and I see no reason to change that, even though it is too soon for me to say that for definite."

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