Ruud's Real retirement plans
By Lucas Brown - Created on 6 Sep 2006
LA LIGA MINI-SITE
In association with San Miguel, get deeper into Spanish football.

Related links
Team Pages:
Real Madrid
Manchester United
Player Pages:
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Ruud van Nistelrooy says he feels rejuvenated at Real Madrid, and wants to retire at the Bernabeu when the time comes.

The prolific Dutch striker left Manchester United after five successful seasons in The Premiership, but had been kept out of the side by Frenchman Louis Saha's goals towards the end.

He therefore made the switch to Fabio Capello's Liga giants earlier in the summer and the 30-year-old could not be happier with his decision.

"The club is fantastic. The people are wonderful and for me that is fundamental," van Nistelrooy told AS.

"From the outside you only see the stars, but I have met the every day people among the staff. The atmosphere in training is perfect and it is wonderful to be here.

"I want to retire here. Each day I try to be a better player.

"I want to win the Champions League and a lot more trophies. This a totally new challenge.

"I won four trophies with United, but I want more and Madrid has made me believe. I feel like a 20-year-old again.

"At this time in my career, moving here was the best thing that could have happened."

The United cult hero has renewed his partnership with former team-mate David Beckham, after they spent two seasons together at Old Trafford, and van Nistelrooy is overjoyed with the reunion despite drawing 0-0 in the opening Liga fixture of the season.

"We know each other very well. It is fantastic to be with him again, not only for the football but also because he is a friend. He is a really great guy," he continued.

"People see him as a star, like somebody from another world. But if they knew him away from football they would realise he is a perfectly normal person. It would be good if fans could see him like that. It is a shame that he is sometimes known only by his image.

"We have a special connection on the pitch. Against Villarreal that was evident. I know his movements and he knows mine. It is great to play alongside someone who can pass as well as him."

Van Nistelrooy has also welcomed the loan signing of old foe Jose Antonio Reyes from Arsenal, in a swap deal that saw striker Julio Baptista go the other way.

"He is a typical left winger. There are not many players that play like him right out on the side," the Dutchman enthused.

"For him Spanish football is better suited to his game and for his personal happiness."

Finally, the former PSV Eindhoven striker reflected on the critical moment which ended his relationship with manager Sir Alex Ferguson and he has claimed the turn of the year was the beginning of the end for his Red Devils career.

"The first three quarters of last season were fine, but the final quarter was one to forget," van Nistelrooy added.

"Things with Ferguson were not like they had been and working together became difficult.

"In February we played in the final of the Carling Cup and I was left on the bench for the entire 90 minutes. That for me was a major turning point."

Though left out of Marco van Basten's squad for their opening Euro 2008 qualifiers, the Dutchman is set to return to action for his club away against Levante on Sunday.