Striker Ruud van Nistelrooy joined Hamburg on Saturday, ending a 3
1/2-year spell with Real Madrid after struggling to find playing
time with the Spanish club this season.
Hamburg said Van Nistelrooy signed a contract through the
2010-11 season, but did not disclose financial details.
"(Hamburg) is a great club with a strong team and big
ambitions - and I have big ambitions too," Van Nistelrooy said,
adding that he hopes the move can help him earn a spot on the
Netherlands' World Cup squad.
The Bundesliga club said the 33-year-old Dutchman will arrive
in Hamburg on Monday.
Hamburg coach Bruno Labbadia said he was convinced the former
Manchester United striker would score "important goals" for the
club, which lost 1-0 at Borussia Dortmund shortly before the
announcement. It is currently fifth in the league, five points
behind leader Bayern Munich.
Van Nistelrooy was one of Europe's top goalscorers for much
of the last decade, but has just one goal from four appearances so
far this season. In total, he scored 60 from 89 appearances for
Madrid.
He was widely expected to leave Real Madrid in the January
transfer window and had been linked to several English clubs,
including Tottenham and West Ham.
Van Nistelrooy scored 33 goals in 64 games for the
Netherlands, but announced his retirement from internationals after
the 2008 European Championship. However, he made it clear that he
hopes increased playing time in Germany will pave the way for a
comeback at this year's World Cup in South Africa.
"Of course, then I hope that the national team coach gets in
touch with me and I can go to the World Cup," he said in an
interview on club's Web site.
Van Nistelrooy joined Madrid from United in July 2006 for
€15 million (then $19 million) after helping the Red Devils
to league and FA Cup titles. He was also one of only eight players
to score 150 goals for United.
He also was the top scorer in the Champions League in 2002,
'03 and '06.
The former Ajax striker made an immediate impact in the
Spanish capital, leading the league with 25 goals in his first
season as he paired up with David Beckham again and helped the club
end a four-year trophy drought - the club's worst for 53 years -
with a league title.
Van Nistelrooy missed most of last season due to a serious
knee injury, making only 10 appearances in all competitions, but
still scored seven goals.
"I had a really good time in Madrid," the player said.
Still, "the Bundesliga has always appealed to me and that was
also a reason for me to make the move," he added.
Labbadia said that "it makes clear the significance of the
club that a player like Ruud van Nistelrooy has decided to move to
Hamburg."
