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Robin Van Persie’s ultimate sporting dreams are finally coming true.

The little boy inside him is still thrilled at being part of the team that has seen Manchester United crowned as English champions for the 20th time.

The 29-year-old Dutchman ­explained: “I was having lunch the other day with Rio Ferdinand when four 10 year-olds from our Academy came in.

“They had nice United tracksuits on. They looked curiously around the place. I said to Rio, in 10 years time those boys will probably be playing in the first team.

“Now, at their age, they don’t have any worries or stress yet.

“I also told Rio that at that age I had the time of my life. It probably was the most wonderful time as a ­footballer. Every day I used to walk round in a track suit. Trainers or football boots were the only things I’d wear on my feet.

“All day at school, after school, on the street, at the club, at PE. Tired? I was never tired. It is amazing that as a kid you don’t feel aches and pains.”

(Image: Julian Finney)

Van Persie explains that this is why he loved his time as the little boy in love with football more than ­anything. All he needed was a ball, his boots and the street or a game at the club.

On Sunday he will walk out at the Emirates as part of the title-winning Red Devils team. It will be his first ­return to Arsenal since his controversial £24million transfer to Old Trafford last summer. He will feel vindicated at finally becoming a champion after eight years of near misses with the Gunners.

Van Persie says he still does not know how he will react to Sunday’s emotional trip.

He said: “I really don’t know what to do on Sunday.

“I remember that I had decided to ­celebrate a goal against Arsenal in a really calm way ­earlier this season at Old Trafford. That went kind of ok.

“But I can’t always anticipate what will happen. Sometimes emotions get the ­better of me. But then again, what I find more beautiful than the actual championship is the way towards winning it. It is one big process.’’

Van Persie, who may well have despatched the goal of the season in last Monday’s title-clinching win over Aston Villa, admits there have been times when his team have not been in breathtaking form.

He explained: “We played Stoke City away. The wind gusting in from three gaps between the stands was ferocious. All their players are 6 feet plus. On days like that, I know that it is going to be nothing but a hard battle. And that’s what I liked about United this season, every player is prepared to battle.

“We have a winning mentality here. I love that. We only have to look at each other on the pitch and we know that we trust each other.

“I have the best job in the world. Every day I can play football. I can see myself carrying on like this for a long time. I used to be addicted to Diego Maradona’s videos.

“I also loved watching moves and turns by Johan Cruyff. Some ­sportsmen like watching films of Rocky, I used to be crazy about those videos. I saw the moves of Maradona and Cruyff as art. Once I had watched one of their videos, I was ready to go and burst on the pitch.

“I made mistakes when I was young. Then I joined Arsenal and met players like Bergkamp, Henry, Pires and Arsene Wenger. Great ­people. They all wanted to help me.

“Even at Arsenal I could get ­impatient. I wanted to go and knock on the manager’s office door and ask him why I was not playing.

“Dennis (Bergkamp) said: ‘Don’t! It might work like that in Holland, but not here. This is England.’

“So I said, ok, I will wait and keep my mouth shut for a bit. ­I ­appreciated he told me to be patient. I do the same now with young players. I love talking to the Academy lads at the club now. I know how they feel, I know why they feel like they do.”

There’s a new ­dimension to Van Persie’s life.

His six year-old son Shaqueel has ­already asked his dad if he can stay longer than just three or four years at United.

It made the United striker smile.

And it reminded him again about the little boy he once was himself.

Meanwhile, Alex Ferguson refuses to rule out move for Robert Lewandowski.