Roy Drenthe at AS
Since Madrid is playing Hércules this weekend, and since Royston Drenthe still technically belongs to us, and because Cristiano said of Drenthe yesterday, “he’s a great person, super fun, we miss him a lot in the locker room because he was our joker,” here’s an interview RR Drenthe did several days ago with AS.
I know most of you aren’t fans, but I found the interview extremely interesting, because you learn a lot about Royston Drenthe the person, and those are the kinds of things that matter to me, in the end. Plus, at times, it’s just downright amusing.
Q: How are you doing in Alicante in this new stage of your life?
A: It’s a laid back city with friendly people. It didn’t take me long to adjust.
Q: In Madrid, they called you “El Malaguita.” Do you know why?
A: That’s what they called me. Iker and Ramos told me that it was from a movie with a guy called El Malaguita and he always went around stealing things. It was a joke. I don’t have to steal anything, thanks to God.
Q: Where are your roots?
A: I’m from Suriname. I was born in the Netherlands, but I feel like I’m from where my parents were born. They came to the Netherlands at the age of four and of seven. Later on, my father worked as a stevedore in Rotterdam port.
Q: Do you go to Suriname a lot?
A: Yes, this summer the entire family’s going.
Q: What’s that country like?
A: It’s very tropical. It’s next to Brazil, Jamaica. It’s full of happy people that love music, and it’s always sunny. There are a lot of five-star hotels being built now…
Q: You and your father have the same tattoo, the numbers “010.” What does that mean?
A: It’s the telephone prefix for Rotterdam. Amsterdam’s is “020.” There’s a lot of rivalry between the two cities.
Q: What was the neighborhood where you grew up, Rotterdam Oost, like?
A: If you go there, tell me so I can accompany you, it will be better that way.
Q: Is it dangerous?
A: Not very, but we’re from the streets. That’s where we like to be, to play ball, listen to music, skateboard, hang out with friends. There’s no criminals, but it’s not a place to be if you’re looking for peace and quiet. It makes you tough.
Q: What did you learn from the streets?
A: Almost everything I know.
Q: Were you in a gang?
A: Of course, but we didn’t have guns or anything like that! We were called the Demolition Crew; later on we formed a band.
Q: Have you ever been in a street fight?
A: In “a” street fight no, in a lot yes (laughs). Cosas de niños.
Q: How much is each of your gold teeth worth?
A: Not as much as people think. A diamond is more expensive.
Q: Was that in fashion?
A: When I was young, I liked it a lot and I still do. And my wife has no complaints. She says that now when she sees something shiny far away, she thinks, “there goes Roy!” And she likes it.
Q: Davids was your big idol. Do you remember when you met him?
A: He played on the streets like me, although we never talked. My legs trembled when I saw him in front of me.
Q: What is it like playing on the streets?
A: It’s not easy. It’s not about your physical condition, there are fat kids who play very well. You have to learn to do tricks.
Q: Do you still remember any?
A: The “Aka.”
Q: What?
A: The “Aka.” With the outside of your foot, you nudge the ball out and in the same motion back to you. Ronaldinho does it very well. I’ll going to dedicate an “Aka” to you in the game against Almeria.
Q: What was your first salary?
A: €3,000 at the age of 16.
Q: What did you do with it?
A: I didn’t touch it. My mother held it for me…
Q: The boss!
A: A woman with a lot of character. My mother would almost kill me each time I did stupid things out on the streets. My father was much kinder.
Q: You dance well, no?
A: Of course I dance well.
Q: Better than you sing?
A: I dance and sing equally well, tío.
Q: Do you dance when you go out?
A: I’m not going to go out and sit on the sofa! What kinds of questions are these…
Q: Is being an elite athlete and going out a lot compatible?
A: It depends on how you feel. I can’t go to sleep early, because I can’t fall asleep. But I don’t go to bed at six in the morning every day either. Siestas help a lot.
Q: Do you go out a lot or not?
A: I’m 23 years old, what do you think? If I win a game, why not? But if I lose, you’ll never find me in a club.
Q: You seem to be very spirited. How many times do you make love every week?
A: With my wife? That’s private (laughs). I have three kids, so imagine…
Q: You’re very effective.
A: I’ll only say that doing it is very important to me.
Q: What’s it like having three children?
A: They’re my entire life. I have two daughters, and a son on the way. The two-year-old is enormous, she’s like a six-year-old in the way she talks and what she says. The small one, who’s one and a half, walks and talks already. She says, “Papa, papa, papa” all day long.
“With my wife?” Of course your WIFE! what kind of question was that? LOL
Q: Better than you sing?
A: I dance and sing equally well, tío.
Q: Do you dance when you go out?
A: I’m not going to go out and sit on the sofa! What kinds of questions are these…
Genius! These had me cracking up… although TMI on the, uh, personal bits, Roy!
I do like Drenthe (particularly for his contributions to RM’s trendsetting fashion), but I kind of hope that his time at Hércules allows him to mature slightly before/if he comes back to us!
“Q: You seem to be very spirited. How many times do you make love every week?
A: With my wife? That’s private (laughs). I have three kids, so imagine…”
Who else would you be making love with? Of course with your wife! Very odd answer..
Hrm, 23 and three kids with two women. I dunno…
Apparently he said to Cuatro that Iker is the most normal person at Real Madrid.
i adore drenthe and it upsets me how cruel and critical people can be of him. this is an adorable interview. 🙂
And my wife has no complaints. She says that now when she sees something shiny far away, she thinks, “there goes Roy!” And she likes it.
Oh, Drenthe! Hahaha.
He seems like a fun guy with a good sense of humour, and I’m sure they do miss him in the locker room. I sincerely hope he does well with Hércules… but not against Real Madrid, haha. 😉
I love this interview:)
Very interesting. Although it’s strange that Drenthe asks ‘with my wife?’, isn’t it stranger that a journo would ask about a players sex life? Maybe that’s a cultural difference between Spanish and English media- here, they’d never be able to ask the question. They probably wouldn’t expect an answer either! May explain why Eng press will doggedly pursue player sex scandals!
He’s right about going to a club to dance- sitting down, watching; not an option.
@Jennifer: do Madrid fans generally dislike him because he seems immature? I don’t know, but sounds like he could do with calming down a little…at the very least, don’t be as blunt in interviews!
“And my wife has no complaints. She says that now when she sees something shiny far away, she thinks, “there goes Roy!” And she likes it.”
HAHAAA
“I’m not going to go out and sit on the sofa! What kinds of questions are these…”
Haha! Great interview. I like Drenthe but he was too inconsistent last season. I am glad he is doing well at Hercules though.
can’t say i like him as a player, but this is amazing. i was NOT expecting the answer to the tattoo question to be about a phone number! seriously, wat. and that’s really cute about his wife seeing shiny things far away and saying “there goes roy”.
“And my wife has no complaints. She says that now when she sees something shiny far away, she thinks, “there goes Roy!” And she likes it.”
Hahaha that is adorable! Also somehow it’s cute just to think of someone calling him Roy.
Thanks for translating, it’s nice to get to know him better in this way! Glad he’s having such success at Hercules, although obviously I hope it will be interrupted shortly!