'I had a problem with Robin van Persie' - Two players blame ex-Arsenal & Man Utd star for Feyenoord departures as new Burnley signing explains how relationship with coach broke down

Hartman left Feyenoord to join newly-promoted Premier League side Burnley in June after a breakdown in his relationship with the coach as he continued his recovery from a knee injury. The coach approached him about signing a new contract, but Hartman alleges his attitude towards him changed when the left-back said he would rather wait until after he returned to full fitness. The left-back also cited the decision to strip Quinten Timber of the captaincy by the ex-Manchester United and Arsenal star as a further example of trouble within the dressing room.

Zerrouki, who joined Feyenoord two years ago from Twente and then returned to the Enschede club recently, made similar claims about Van Persie, pointing to a breakdown in their relationship before his exit.

In an interview with AD, Hartman spoke about his broken relationship with Van Persie. He stated: "I'm very honest about that. I've had a really bad feeling in Rotterdam these past two months. I was walking around the club with a bad feeling. That wasn't the fault of the fans, from whom I still receive messages. But it was the problems with the manager. I think everyone was more or less aware of that.

"He never expressed it outright; it's just a feeling. But he said in a conversation: 'We really want you to stay. I really want you to stay. You're an important player for me.' I told him I wanted to think about it after my injury. That I was just happy to be able to play again. In the weeks that followed, because I didn't want to re-sign, there was suddenly a different bond. I got the feeling he looked at me differently. You see exactly the same thing now with Quinten Timber, whose captaincy was stripped from him. I think that's a shame, because in my fifteen years at Feyenoord, I never had a problem with anyone. Especially the manager, such an important person."

Zerrouki told Voetbal International: "Well, what can we say? In the beginning, he was very involved with me. I started to enjoy it again, but in the last week of last season, something changed. That's how it goes in football sometimes. Let's just say I didn't do anything wrong. The bond simply weakened in the final week of the season. It wasn't necessarily football-related. He had an opinion about me, and I didn't agree with it. From that, I concluded I'd be better off playing elsewhere."

Hartman, 23, came through the Feyenoord youth academy and enjoyed his breakthrough season in the 2022-23 campaign. He remained a first-team regular throughout the following campaign until he was forced to undergo knee surgery in April 2024. He spent much of last season out of action before making his return in February, limiting him to just 12 Eredivisie appearances. He has started and finished both of Burnley's Premier League games this season, helping them to a 2-0 win against Sunderland last time out.

Hartman will hope to keep his place in the starting XI when Burnley face Derby County in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.