After Wigan Athletic beat Arsenal at Emirates, the London club’s ace striker Robin van Persie didn’t go home and sulk. Instead the Dutch striker visited The Grosvenor House, where FC Barcelona players and technical staff are staying ahead of their UEFA Champions League semi-final match against Chelsea. Van Persie was seen meeting his compatriot Ibrahim Afellay (there is photo evidence of that) and perhaps even caught up with former teammate Cesc Fabregas, who did his best to lure Van Persie away from Arsenal. Kidding.

Given that Van Persie’s name has popped up as a probable summer transfer target for FC Barcelona, obviously his trip had British tabloids speculating that the 28-year-old player may have used the visit to discuss his chances of joining Barca and meeting his future teammates. It’s never a slow news day in the world of football.

And all of this transpired at 10pm, reports El Mundo Deportivo, which added that Van Persie met Afellay and Cesc barely an hour after Barca had landed. The publication said that he greeted the duo warmly (obviously) and wished them luck for the game against Chelsea (to be honest given Arsenal and Chelsea rivalry, he wants Barca to win).

Source: El Mundo Deportivo, Daily Mail; Image credit: CORDON PRESS