The former Blancos star admits to being disappointed at having seen a talismanic presence leave the Santiago Bernabeu for Juventus over the summer
Cristiano Ronaldo should have followed the lead of eternal rival Lionel Messi and stayed at Real Madrid, claims Rafael van der Vaart.
Having sparked talk of a move elsewhere on the back of a third successive Champions League triumph with the Blancos, the Portuguese superstar duly departed the Santiago Bernabeu in July.
A €112m (£101m/$130m) deal took the five-time Ballon d’Or winner to Juventus, with a record-breaking and goal-laden nine-year spell in the Spanish capital brought to a close.
Ronaldo’s decision to take on a new challenge at 33 years of age came as a surprise to many, with Van der Vaart among those who feel he should have displayed the same loyalty to Madrid as Messi has to Barcelona.
The former Blancos midfielder told Ukrainian news outlet Football.ua: “You know, guys like Messi... Messi will never leave Barcelona.
“I'm slightly sad about Ronaldo's departure.”
Van der Vaart was on the books in Madrid when Ronaldo made a big-money arrival in the summer of 2009.
His signing was a contributing factor to the creative playmaker eventually moving on to Tottenham, but the Dutchman has no regrets at having spent two seasons at the Bernabeu.
Van der Vaart admits there was initially rival interest in his signature as he prepared to leave Hamburg, but there was only ever one destination in La Liga that appealed to him.
He added: “I do not know anything about [interest from] Atletico Madrid. Valencia - yes, they wanted to buy me and were ready to pay big money, but Hamburg refused. So I said ‘okay’ and stayed.
“And then when Real Madrid came it was an easy decision, especially considering that my mother is from Spain and I'm half Spanish. My family still lives there, so it was just fantastic.
“It is the greatest club in the world, so it was something special.
“Real are the only club whose shirt I wore every day and thought: ‘Wow, I did it!’. That is what is so great about Real Madrid.”
Van der Vaart is currently turning out in Danish football, with the 35-year-old having penned a one-year deal with Esbjerg this summer after reaching the end of his contract at FC Midtjylland.
Madrista_forever
173
loyalty is only for those who respect the players and stand as thier backbone when they are in trouble,I feel shamed to say this but did you ever hear a single Barcelona fan booing,jeering or whistling at Messi nope and when the case of tax fraud came into act the club started a campaign "#weallaremessi" that's the respect love and affection a player wants if you want him to stay but which he never received at madrid,when he was in a tough situation no one came into his support and at last he was penalised with 18milion euros and 2 years of sentence in prison,fine is k but prison is unacceptable they should have done something there and they didn't support him when there was. a 5 match ban due to a push on refree in Spanish cup and when he had an off day fans started booing,jeering and whistling and that's intolerable towards the legend of the blancos history they had,and at last contract it was never about the money he still says it and we all know it Madrid accepted to pay the same pay he is receiving currently at juve when he was leaving but the love respect the fans showed towards him for the goal in champions league swayed his heart and mind towards them that's the power of respect,if you respect your players they respect you as simple as that so never bring a question of loyalty once again and he is the best he can play anywhere not a single league clown
NeoFlow11
89
Ronaldo wanted to leave, and that happened. That was his opinion. Unlike others will take it like he wants to prove something. He did what he thought was best for him. And now he is taking a new turn, in a new surrounding, a new atmosphere, new team mates... And off course a new country. All the best in your endeavours. And those who are judging Messi being a nobody because of his loyalty should just get over that simple excuse. You don't see the best in a person by moving around, if he's good... then he's good. And nothing else. Appreciate where it is due. You're the same people who can recognize a woman as being a woman after changing men like I don't know. I love Messi and also I love Ronaldo. They are legends... And will live as legends.
Jeremiahjay
72
You all dont know why ronaldo left wheather it was for proving himself as the best or wanting to move but let me tell you something Barcelona is messi's home and he's life a father to Barcelona so why would he like? He of course plays in the best club in the world and also ronaldo plays in a best club in italy. Ronaldo left because real madrid did not give him as much money as messi earn and so he decided to leave because he was not happy to see himself earnimg under messi's pay. And when he went to italy he still earn les than messi's so it was his decision and i respect it. He is one of the best and can make any decision that he wants but remember the thing that makes him earn under messi is because he does not play lile messi and himself knows that messi is uncomparable so mesi is the best cause if ronaldo was the best he could have earned more than messi but doesnt. Respect for both...
SantoshKc
65
He achieved in england and spain..now he wants to achieve in Italy too.. what's wrong in that?? with age, his desire and hunger were declining in madrid after winning everything.. now that he moved to italy, he is super motivated..and push himself to the limit to leave a legacy at juventus too..
Switzerland1027913
59
Another ass who thinks he is a expert about somebody’s lives.Cristiano plays in all sense lots of loyalty to Madrid in all the time he plays, he doesn’t have to prove or accept any morality from nobody.if Messi decides to stay that’s is decisions and no more than that,don’t make him more especial or loyal.hi hope Cristiano win something and if decides move away to another club if he decides to, winners like Cristiano is not for everyone’s especially jealous mentality people.
zeoabilmyz
52
Cr7 is too ambitious to remain at Madrid where he has practically won everything available. He's a global contributor helping teams win trophies ; Man Utd >> R. Madrid >> Juventus , soon Juve will add another UCL Trophy to their cabinet ,courtesy CR7 G.O.A.T .
Moduyz
46
Disagree with Van. Simple:- RM didn't fulfill their promises to CR7. And RM wanted to cash in on CR7 at a slight profit when they bought from MU. So,we wait until end of this season in May '19, whether RM can achieve any trophies then. Otherwise, Perez needs to leave the post in RM.
dudabcdist
40
This agent, I think he does not know what it takes to run a football club. He is just thinking of how much he can get from his client and not helping him on how to comport himself professionally. Raiola or whatever he is has made comments in the past even on IBRA, which I think is unhealthy professionally. Raiola should see Paul scholes as a passionate legend of Manchester united that is not associated with failure........(2) Scholesy has also spoken well of pogba that he will be a success in ManU. if he........Raiola should understand that Manchester united is not just a club but a cradle of traditions in the profession.
Somdentu
27
even if he hasn't score any goal his performance is great, and he's the reason juventus is playing on higher class now because have been waiting their game, guy no regrets as time move on u will adopt to the Italian style on ur top goal scoring, you are always the best player.