Shaqueel, who has shown nice promise in each soccer and golf – he generally beats his father at the latter – plays for a team near the Van Persie family home. Van Persie has been thus impressed with the team's coach that he has been happy for Shaqueel to stay with him and ignore Arsenal's calls.
"I honestly have to be compelled to say that he [Shaqueel] has a lot of talent for soccer," said Van Persie, the Arsenal captain. "I recognise a lot of stuff of myself in him. His coach is admittedly nice. Arsenal has invited him a few of times to return and play there but he likes it at his club. he's sensitive for an honest atmosphere. just like me.
"He loves to play golf. you have some nice golf courses here. he's taking lessons and that we frequently play a round. generally he beats me! he's got an excellent gift for where the ball has to go. My shots generally find yourself in the bush; his invariably go straight. He says: 'Dad, i am attending to chip currently, gimme my this or that club.' He will do this perfectly as well."
It is not entirely unusual for Premier League clubs to seek to accommodate the young sons of players. Damian, the son of Rafael van der Vaart, the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder and Van Persie's international team-mate with Holland, trains each week with the Tottenham under-sixes.
The Arsenal striker, who is in prolific goal-scoring form, has postponed new contract talks until the summer, when he will have 12 months to run on his deal. a number of clubs are monitoring matters, chief among them Manchester city and, in an interview with NUsport magazine, Van Persie spoke of his admiration for Barcelona.
"I still think you'll achieve most by enjoying stunning soccer," he said. "Look at Barcelona. Their soccer are a few things unique, stunning to look at. we'll never forget it. but generally, they also depend on the individual actions of [Lionel] Messi or somebody else.
"Nobody will play stunning soccer all the time. that's what I tell the boys [at Arsenal]. When it doesn't go smoothly, simply attempt to kill the sport.
"I'm still an addict of the sport and that i will invariably be but I've become additional realistic. It's too romantic to think you'll only win by enjoying stunning soccer. Barcelona is the exception."
