In a surprising revelation, former Real Madrid midfielder Rafael Van der Vaart has opened up about Cristiano Ronaldo’s admiration for their former teammate, Royston Drenthe. Drenthe, who joined Real Madrid from Dutch club Feyenoord in 2007, made only 65 appearances for the Spanish La Liga giants before permanently leaving in 2012.
Van der Vaart, who spent time with Drenthe and Ronaldo in Madrid, reflected on their time together and shed light on the admiration Ronaldo had for Drenthe’s abilities. “I think it is unfortunate that Royston is the best left-back Holland has ever had. If he had put aside his ego and his love for street football, he would have still played for the national team,” Van der Vaart said, as quoted by Sports Klub.
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The former midfielder also revealed that Drenthe enjoyed the challenge of facing Cristiano Ronaldo in training. “He enjoyed playing against Cristiano Ronaldo in training. It was a challenge for him. He kept asking ‘Cristiano, who is that?’ Ronaldo was crazy about him in training. Royston was fast, agile and technically outstanding.”
Drenthe, who recently retired at the age of 36, left a lasting impression on his former teammates, despite his relatively short stint at Real Madrid. His speed, agility, and technical prowess made him a standout player, and it’s clear that his talent left a lasting impression on none other than Cristiano Ronaldo himself.
The revelation of Ronaldo’s admiration for Drenthe sheds light on the dynamics of their time together at Real Madrid and provides a glimpse into the competitive spirit that drove both players to excel in training. It also offers a unique perspective on the talent and potential that Drenthe possessed, as seen through the eyes of his former teammates.
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As fans and football enthusiasts reflect on the careers of these former stars, the revelation from Van der Vaart adds a new layer of intrigue to the story of Royston Drenthe and his impact on the football world.
The retirement of Drenthe marks the end of a chapter in his football journey, but the memories and impact he left on his former teammates, including the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo, will continue to be remembered and celebrated in the world of football.
