Wigan Athletic defender Ronnie Stam admits Arsenal striker Robin van Persie had a say in his move to England.

Stam even sought the advice of Van Persie before deciding to join Wigan from FC Twente last summer.

"Robin is a good friend of mine, and it's always nice to play against a good friend," Stam told the Wigan Evening Post.

"We were together in the youth team at Feyenoord, from the age of 12, and since then we have been very close."

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