Warning: if you’re upset about the departure of Rafa van der Vaart, DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER. It will upset you and possibly make you cry. Because Rafa is so adorable and so obviously loves this club, this city and this country. And so classy as well. Plus, it will most definitely make you hate certain people in this club.
Marca sent a reporter to the Italian city of Rimini, where the Netherlands are staying before their 2012 Euro qualifier against San Marino. His mission? To speak with Rafa van der Vaart. He found him at the airport, and Rafa acceded to an interview.
Q: Two days have passed since you left Real Madrid. Do you still feel hurt?
A: No, I’m good now [yay], I’m getting used to the idea. It’s an important change in my life, but I’m going to a great team. Tottenham is an important team that is playing in the Champions League and that has a very competitive squad. It’s a new challenge for me and right now I’m very happy, with a desire to compete in the Premier League, which I love.
Q: But your goodbye wasn’t as you hoped it would be.
A: Of course, but that has already passed and there’s no need to make it a bigger deal than it is.
Q: Who told you about the decision?
A: It all happened very fast and we all agreed to it. One day before the transfer market closed, Tottenham made a serious offer for me, and in two or three hours, we managed to come to an agreement. Playing with them was a valid option for me. Real Madrid then accepted the transaction and everything came together in time. Well… almost (laughs), but everything is in order now.
Q: The offer came late, but in the end, it came. But it seemed like there were a lot of teams interested in you during the summer.
A: Yes, there were offers from Germany and some other places, but I didn’t want to leave Real Madrid. The club wanted to sell me and I found myself facing the possibility that I wouldn’t have any minutes. They told me that and a solution had to be found. Like last year, I would have to fight a lot to get minutes. A lot of the signings play the same position as me, and what I wanted was to be on the field. If it could be with Real Madrid, the best team in the world, in my opinion, great. But if not, I had to find a solution to be able to keep on enjoying football like I have up to now.
[Ok, this makes me sad on so many levels – first, that Rafa didn’t want to leave; second, that the club wanted to sell him; third, that the club told him he wouldn’t get to play; fourth, that they had done the same to him last year; and fifth, that they had signed those players, showing they had no confidence in Rafa and/or obviously wasn’t counting on him for this season. He really, really deserved to be treated better than this.]
Q: And the solution could have been to play in Manchester United, Bayern Munich or even in Atlético de Madrid.
A: No, there wasn’t anything with Manchester United. The offer from Bayern Munich didn’t go far. And in the end I did have the option to go to Atlético, but neither the club nor I wanted to accept it. In that moment, I wouldn’t have been able to play for any Spanish team other than Real Madrid. That’s my team. For me, it’s been an honor to have spent all that time there, and I can say that “soy del Real Madrid,” without a doubt.
Q: Do you believe that they didn’t respect you, that they weren’t sincere with you?
A: No. Look, I don’t want to say anything bad about the club. I’ve experienced many good things and I prefer to remember those. Of course, there were bad things, but you have to look ahead and face what is coming, without thinking about the bad things that happened. I apologize for not wanting to remember the bad parts.
Q: How did you say goodbye to your teammates?
A: It was sad for me, to tell you the truth. I think it was sad for my teammates as well. I have a great relationship with Dudek, Lass, Iker, Sergio, Higuaín… all of them. They’re my friends and very good people. I’m going to miss them. I was very well integrated with the group and with the club. And with the fans as well; they’ve been important for me, they’ve always supported me and made me feel proud of my work. But these things happen in life and you have to keep on living.
Q: What about Mourinho?
A: I had a good relationship with him as well. I think very highly of him. He’s the best coach in the world, he’s won everything and I’m sure he’ll win more titles with Madrid. I hope so.
Q: And Valdano?
A: (Laughs). Look, I said I didn’t want to say anything bad about anyone. I have a lot of respect for Real Madrid and I don’t want to say anything bad.
[So, we find out who the real culprit is!!!]
Q: Did you know that your number 23 shirt was selling really well in the last two days?
A: Really? You don’t say, that’s great!… It pains me to see that some Madrid fans are sad about my departure [like me!]. It pains me a lot to leave Madrid as well, but I’m sure we’ll see each other soon.
Q: Soon? Like in the Champions League?
A: It would be a dream to return to the Bernabéu with Tottenham. I would feel as if I were at home.
Q: Will you return often to Madrid?
A: I’m sure of it. For the moment, my family will continue living in Madrid for at least two or three more months. Everything happened so fast, and it’s not easy to move with kids. But of course I will continue coming to Madrid. My mother is Spanish! My heart is in this country.
Q: During the summer, there was a rumor that you couldn’t leave Madrid because your wife needed to continue her treatment in a specific hospital, and that because of that you would only accept to go to teams in big cities.
A: No, thank God that that’s not true. My wife is fine [yay!!!]. She had a very serious disease and it’s true that she was being treated at the Clínica Quirón. Last season, they wanted me to leave, but I couldn’t for that reason. Now that’s not important anymore. She’s doing well, and the only thing that happened is that Madrid wanted to sell me, that I wanted to continue enjoying playing football and Tottenham is a great team that offered me the possibility to do so. That’s all.
Q: To end, do you want to send a message to the madridistas?
A: Thank you very much. I just want to say that to everyone, from those who worked at the club to the fans. Thank you for the support you’ve given me, and for making me feel good and as if I were at home. We’ll see each other soon, I’m sure of it. I leave with Madrid in my heart. I’m a madridista. A big kiss.