Rafa: We all miss Madrid

Posted Tuesday, March 29, 2011 by The Sun

RAFAEL VAN DER VAART still loves Real Madrid - and so does his son Damian.

But Rafa has vowed to score at the Bernabeu next week to sink the Spanish giants and help Tottenham take a huge step towards the semi-finals of the Champions League.

The Dutch star joined Spurs in a cut-price £8million move from Real last summer.

Van Der Vaart, 28, admitted that along with four-year-old son Damian, they still missed the 'best club in the world'.

He said: "Little Damian is the best thing in my life. He speaks Spanish and English but is always saying to me 'Daddy why don't we have a pool here? There's no sun here. It's not the same as in Madrid'. We have a special love for Madrid.

"Going back to play at the Bernabeu is a dream for me. It's going to be special."

The former Ajax and Hamburg star added: "I have played in my country, in Germany, in Spain and now in England. Playing at the Bernabeu is unique so I am pleased to return to Madrid."

Van Der Vaart decided to quit Spain last summer after talks with new boss Jose Mourinho.

Mesut Ozil had just joined from Werder Bremen and Van Der Vaart realised his future was bleak at Madrid.

He said: "I felt very badly when I left because I was leaving the best club in the world.

"But I wanted to play every game and in Madrid there are a lot of exceptional players - Ozil, Kaka.

"I am 28 and to keep myself at a great level I need games. I wasn't going to stay and not play. Now I am very pleased in London with Tottenham."

Van Der Vaart's time at Madrid had its up and downs - a low being when wife Sylvie was diagnosed with breast cancer - but he was always a favourite with the fans.

He added: "I love the Real fans. They know that I went through a tough situation with my family and things weren't going great on the pitch either.

"I love them but I also want to give them a big disappointment.

"I am a Tottenham player. We have chances of winning the tie because we have a lot of quality and very good players."