MADRID // Ruud van Nistelrooy's international and club teammate Rafael van der Vaart is surprised at the striker's decision to end his Holland career. Van Nistelrooy's retirement means he falls seven goals short of Patrick Kluivert's all-time goalscoring tally of 40. Van der Vaart, who was presented as a Real player after signing a five-year deal, is disappointed that he will no longer take to the field with Van Nistelrooy in international football. "It's a pity for us. I knew he was thinking about his future, but I had a feeling that he would continue with the Oranje," Van der Vaart said.
"He wasn't working to become the all-time Dutch leading scorer, and to take that title from Patrick Kluivert. "If he had have been, he would have stayed on as international. Ruud wanted to win prizes with the team. But he must have had enough." It is a decision that Van Nistelrooy took after having studied in detail the programmes of Real Madrid and the Dutch XI. "I realised that, given the physical effort required to perform at my maximum, I was going to have to make a choice," Van Nistelrooy said.
"The combination of the competition, cup and Champions League games of Real Madrid and the programme of the Dutch team is too heavy a burden. I have no other choice," he said, adding that it was a decision he had not taken lightly. * PA Sport
