VDV targets long stay
Dutch international midfielder Rafael van der Vaart says he hopes to play for Real Madrid for several more years despite being relegated to the substitutes bench in recent matches.
"Everything was going well at the beginning of the season. I had a great feeling. I don't think I was playing poorly, but I was benched for a few matches," he told the Spanish sports newspaper Marca in a long interview along with his wife, Sylvie.
"It's not easy to get used to being a reserve because I had been a starter throughout most of my career."
Van der Vaart, whose mother is Spanish, signed with Real last summer from German club Hamburg for five seasons in a deal reportedly worth 13 million euros (17 million dollars).
But he has failed to impress, and along with three of his Dutch teammates Royston Drenthen, Wesley Sneijder and Klaas-jan Huntelaar, has been unable to hold down a regular first-team place.
Two other Dutch stars, Arjen Robben and Ruud Van Nistelrooy, have shone at Real, although the latter is out injured until the end of the season.
"I signed for five years, but I hope to be here many more years," said van der Vaart, who celebrated his 26th birthday Wednesday. "I want to be an important part of Real Madrid's history and win many titles. That's what I've always dreamed about."
His wife, a well-known Dutch model and television personality, also said she hoped to remain in Madrid for some time and become an "ambassador" for Real.
But she rejected comparisons made by the Spanish press with David Beckham and his pop star wife Victoria, who became high-profile celebrities in Spain during the English player's stint at Real.
"We are not the new Beckhams," she said.
Rafael van der Vaart also voiced confidence about Real's February 25 Champion League clash with Liverpool.
"We're Real Madrid, which is why I think Liverpool are frightened of us. We have great players. It's going to be a great tie," he said.
"The team is working hard to be in perfect shape. We're anxious to do well in Europe, and if we end up as champions I will be capable of anything. I will do anything to win the Champions League."
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