Football
ESPN staff 9y

Rafael van der Vaart: Real Madrid world's most impatient club

Rafael van der Vaart says he is proud he spent two years at Real Madrid but described it as "the most impatient club in the world."

Van der Vaart, now back in La Liga with Real Betis, moved to Madrid from Hamburg in August 2008, when Bernd Schuster was coach and Ramon Calderon was club president.

However, Schuster left in December that year and Calderon resigned the following month.

Van der Vaart battled to prove his worth under Juande Ramos and Manuel Pellegrini but moved on to Tottenham in 2010, during Jose Mourinho's first summer in charge, after saying he was tired of "fighting" to show his worth.

In an interview with AS, the Netherlands international said: "I am proud of having spent two years there, playing and scoring for the team. I arrived there when Calderon was president, [Predrag] Mijatovic was sporting director and Schuster was first team coach.

"In just three months, all three were all gone -- crazy."

He added: "At Real Madrid, if you win nothing it's deemed as a major fiasco. The most impatient club in the world. You lose a game and it's as if the world has ended."

Van der Vaart, who said earlier this month that leaving Spurs was the "most stupid" decision of his career, was also critical of Real for their handling of Iker Casillas' move to Porto.

"It was sad," he said. "He won so much there that the way he left was a total lack of respect for him. Casillas is synonymous with Real Madrid -- the club ran through his blood. I hope he gets a chance at Porto to prove just how good he still is."

The 32-year-old midfielder is now looking to prove his worth back in Spain after moving to Betis following a disappointing three-year spell back at Hamburg, and he rejected the idea he was only at the club to sell shirts.

"I certainly feel I'm far more competitive than being a media personality," he said. "I want to win, score goals, get back into the Dutch national team. To achieve all that, one has to do more than just sell replica shirts."

He said he was very happy with life at his new club, saying: "I feel at home. The fans have been fantastic. Seville reminds me of Hamburg a little in that people are very friendly and it's a great city. The heat however is a major difference."

He added: "Playing football is the best job around. Few people get to see their childhood dream come true and I'm one of the few."

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