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Goal.com Worldview: From Real Madrid to Tottenham Hotspur - why Rafael van der Vaart has arrived in the Premier League
Global experts analyse Dutchman's surprise move to Spurs...
2 Sep 2010 08:00:00
"Four years at Spurs, for €11 million (£9m), I can hardly believe it myself," Rafael van der Vaart said shortly after his move to Tottenham Hotspur, summing up the general mood of observers of the 11th hour transfer.
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But why has new Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho allowed the Dutch playmaker to leave the club, instead of making him a part of a potentially glorious new chapter in Los Blancos' already illustrious history? And why has a player with obvious technical talent and ability only moved clubs for relatively small sums throughout his career?
Goal.com UK sought the expertise of our global neighbours to find out...
Van der Vaart left Ajax, with whom he had started his career at just 10 years old, for Hamburg in the summer of 2005, for just €5.5m, when he arguably had the option to leave for a much bigger club.
"Even if Van der Vaart was a big star, no one had the feeling that he wanted to be 'the big fish' in the pond," Goal.com Germany's Francois Duchateau remembers of the Dutchman's arrival in the Bundesliga.
"It was even the other way around: people had lot of respect for him, that he did trust a club like HSV and not Bayern [Munich, also rumoured to be interested in the Oranje international]. Not many professionals would have done this.
"He was simply a genius. He was the heart of the whole HSV creativity and could decide big matches with his actions and goals. He was a big star of the Bundesliga and everybody loved his play.
"People in Hamburg are very disappointed the club, and especially trainer Armin Veh, didn't try more to achieve a comeback [for Van der Vaart to return to Germany this summer].
"But people still dream about a comeback, and this dream will for sure never end."
The Dutchman's next move was considerably higher profile and demanded a higher fee, as he arrived at Real Madrid for €13m - more than double what Hamburg paid for him. However, Goal.com International's KS Leong believes the Madrid faithful never expected Van der Vaart to steal the show at the Bernabeu, and the once coveted star still has it all to do to become one of his generation's greats.
"There wasn't a lot of expectation on Van der Vaart when he arrived at Madrid because he only cost the club a modest €13m and the fans were aware he was a good player, but not a high-profile superstar," Leong says.
"But he certainly did not live up to his promise. There were games where he demonstrated his true potential, but he didn't do it consistently enough.
"I believe it was the right time for him to leave. In fact, he should've gone last summer and staying an extra season as a bit-part player at Madrid may have cost him a first-team place with the Netherlands at the 2010 World Cup. With more new midfielders being signed by Madrid this summer, Van der Vaart was just falling further and further down the pecking order.
"As a Dutch player who emerged from the Ajax academy, he has a reputation for being technically gifted, which he is. He's also a good passer of the ball and excellent with set-pieces. But reputation aside, he still has to prove he can cut it at Spurs and in the Premier League. I think the more direct attacking approach of the English game will allow him to thrive.
"Whether he can thrive within Spurs and command a regular first team place is another matter..."
Are you surprised by Rafael Van der Vaart's move to Tottenham? Do you think the former Ajax star can cut it in the Premier League? Please leave a comment below to have your say on the move...
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MORE...
- Debate: With Van der Vaart on board, how will Redknapp arrange Spurs' midfield?
- Revealed: How the Van der Vaart deal almost fell through
- Five reasons why Van der Vaart's signing is just Spurs' consolation after a disappointing transfer window
But why has new Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho allowed the Dutch playmaker to leave the club, instead of making him a part of a potentially glorious new chapter in Los Blancos' already illustrious history? And why has a player with obvious technical talent and ability only moved clubs for relatively small sums throughout his career?
Goal.com UK sought the expertise of our global neighbours to find out...
"No one had the feeling that he wanted to be 'the big fish' in the pond..."
Van der Vaart left Ajax, with whom he had started his career at just 10 years old, for Hamburg in the summer of 2005, for just €5.5m, when he arguably had the option to leave for a much bigger club.
"Even if Van der Vaart was a big star, no one had the feeling that he wanted to be 'the big fish' in the pond," Goal.com Germany's Francois Duchateau remembers of the Dutchman's arrival in the Bundesliga. "It was even the other way around: people had lot of respect for him, that he did trust a club like HSV and not Bayern [Munich, also rumoured to be interested in the Oranje international]. Not many professionals would have done this.
"He was simply a genius. He was the heart of the whole HSV creativity and could decide big matches with his actions and goals. He was a big star of the Bundesliga and everybody loved his play.
"People in Hamburg are very disappointed the club, and especially trainer Armin Veh, didn't try more to achieve a comeback [for Van der Vaart to return to Germany this summer].
"But people still dream about a comeback, and this dream will for sure never end."
"He still has to prove he can cut it at Spurs and in the Premier League"...
The Dutchman's next move was considerably higher profile and demanded a higher fee, as he arrived at Real Madrid for €13m - more than double what Hamburg paid for him. However, Goal.com International's KS Leong believes the Madrid faithful never expected Van der Vaart to steal the show at the Bernabeu, and the once coveted star still has it all to do to become one of his generation's greats.
"There wasn't a lot of expectation on Van der Vaart when he arrived at Madrid because he only cost the club a modest €13m and the fans were aware he was a good player, but not a high-profile superstar," Leong says. "But he certainly did not live up to his promise. There were games where he demonstrated his true potential, but he didn't do it consistently enough.
"I believe it was the right time for him to leave. In fact, he should've gone last summer and staying an extra season as a bit-part player at Madrid may have cost him a first-team place with the Netherlands at the 2010 World Cup. With more new midfielders being signed by Madrid this summer, Van der Vaart was just falling further and further down the pecking order.
"As a Dutch player who emerged from the Ajax academy, he has a reputation for being technically gifted, which he is. He's also a good passer of the ball and excellent with set-pieces. But reputation aside, he still has to prove he can cut it at Spurs and in the Premier League. I think the more direct attacking approach of the English game will allow him to thrive.
"Whether he can thrive within Spurs and command a regular first team place is another matter..."
Have Your Say
Are you surprised by Rafael Van der Vaart's move to Tottenham? Do you think the former Ajax star can cut it in the Premier League? Please leave a comment below to have your say on the move...
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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