Rafa: My son saw Muamba collapse and realised it could have been me

HORROR ... Jermain Defoe and Ryo Miyaichi fight back the tears

“Three years ago my wife had breast cancer and life was not rosy every day. From that time on, I think more about things.

“It didn’t change me as a player but probably as a person. I am more relaxed today than I was before. I look at things differently, with more distance, seeing the positive rather than the negative.

“In football, you win and you lose but it is just a game.”

Van der Vaart, 29, grew up in a caravan in the Dutch village of Heemskerk.

He said: “In Holland it’s about a way of life that has nothing to do with lack of money. I grew up in a camp among families from Morocco and other countries.”

It is there that Van der Vaart showed his talent, playing football in the streets before joining the famous Ajax academy aged 10.

That is why he now organises his own street tournament for kids.

Van der Vaart told a French magazine: “I was mostly outside, as my parents lived in a caravan. It was very useful for me. It’s in the street where I was made, where my character was forged, even though subsequently I learnt a lot technically by joining Ajax.”

Damian is already on Spurs’ books. But Van der Vaart said: “It’s tough for my son because he has a ‘name’ before being someone. His parents are well known, he lives in a beautiful house. So I tell him two things: Respect the people and never forget to enjoy it... and, of course, enjoy winning’.”

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