Entertainment

Rafael van der Vaart: Leaving Real Madrid was hard but I fell in love with Tottenham

June 29, 2011

160

Big Brother Amplified: Nic Rules Out Future With Kim — Kenyan Big Brother Amplified evictee Nic Alexander has ruled out any future romantic links to Zambian girl Kim in an exclusive interview on Capital FM. Speaking on phone from South Africa, the young TV producer said that he and Kim were just friends in the Amplified House and he has no plans to get tied down for the next several years at least. “With what I am planning to do in the next three or four years, it would be hard to let someone in and I don’t want it to be one-sided where she has the emotions and I’m trying to include her into my life; I don’t want to put pressure on somebody like that.” Kim had confided that she was debating the possibility of joining a university in Kenya, stirring speculation that she might use it to get closer to her Kenyan pal

By Miles Chambers

29 Jun 2011 11:48:00

Rafael van der Vaart celebrates his opener in Spurs’ 3-1 win over Inter (Getty Images)

Teams

Players

Rafael van der Vaart has admitted leaving Real Madrid was hard but says he ‘fell in love’ with Tottenham.

The 28-year-old moved to White Hart Lane from the Bernabeu last summer, in a deadline day transfer coup for a fee believed to be in the region of £7 million.

The midfielder revealed he was also advised by former Dutch international Edgar Davids that Spurs are a great club and that the Premier League would suit his game.

“I had some contact with Edgar, who had also played for Spurs, and he told me it was a great club and the people are good. He also said the league would fit me well,” he told the club’s official magazine.

He added: “It wasn’t easy to leave Real Madrid because I had a great life there.

“They are the biggest club in the world so I was quite happy, but when Spurs came in I spoke with the manager and the chairman, fell in love with the club and wanted to join Tottenham.”

Van der Vaart impressed in his first few weeks with Spurs, scoring three goals in his first four Premier League matches, and eventually scored 15 goals in 36 appearances in his first season.

He also played his role in Tottenham’s debut Champions League campaign, helping them reach the quarter-finals where they were knocked out by his former club Madrid.

This season the former Hamburg and Ajax player will have to make do with Europa League football after Harry Redknapp’s side finished fifth in the league.

Our provides the best breaking news online and our football fan community is unmatched worldwide. Never miss a thing again!