Van Nistelrooy: Message From Madrid

[red_devils4life]

Source: Manutd.com


http://pub.tv2.no/multimedia/na/archive/00210/Ruud_van_Nistelrooy_210459c.jpg

Ruud van Nistelrooy has more than one reason to support the Reds in the Nou Camp next week. Playing for Barca’s rivals Real Madrid should be enough, but the Dutchman's love for United means there’s no confusing where his loyalties lie…

So, how’s life?

- Good. It was a big change moving to Madrid from Manchester. My wife was eight months pregnant and it was a busy year, with the baby, settling in, a new language for us and a new team. But we came through it well and everything is more settled. I now speak the language and know my way around Madrid.

Isn't it true that Dutch people learn a new language every day after breakfast?

- [Laughs] I tried to pick up Spanish straight away. I had classes and after six months I could speak a bit. Very few people speak English in Madrid so I had to learn quickly. David Beckham helped me when I arrived. That was a great help.

Do you miss Manchester?

- We do. We were very happy there and I always thought that I would finish my career at United. Sometimes things don’t go the way you plan, but that’s true in life and not just football. We spent five years there and Manchester will always be part of us. Me and my wife went back last summer for a weekend to see friends. It was nice to be there and drive around the city. When I finish my career I'll return to Holland, but I will visit Manchester a couple of times a year.

What have you made of Cristiano Ronaldo's form lately?

- His development has been the biggest change since I left. He stands out now. His improvement has been incredible. He came as a young lad and needed to improve. The manager gave him confidence by playing him all the time. By doing that he got the footballer he wanted. Ronaldo’s now a great player. He makes the right decisions, taking the man on when he needs to and passing the ball at the right time. He does everything – he takes free kicks and corners. He leaves goal kicks to van der Sar, but I expect him to start taking them soon! If he carries on like this he’ll be the best player in the world. He’s got everything.

Do you still watch United's matches?

- I see most of the games. United are always on television in Spain, usually before we play. It’s good to see the team doing so well and I like seeing games at Old Trafford because I’ve got happy memories from there.

How do Spanish fans compare to their English counterparts?

- The English are the best supporters in the world. The stadiums are always full. When United played away, our section was packed with the hardcore making a great atmosphere. I can hear the United fans singing when I watch matches on television. I noticed that they have changed the words of one song from ‘Glasgow’, where the 2002 Champions League final was held, to ‘Moscow’ the venue for this year’s final. ‘Follow, follow, follow, because United are going to Moscow,’ – that’s the one. United have the quality to get there.

[spwaff]

i still miss Ruud so much.always on the score sheet at any given time.i used to love that///////////////////////

[abojodeh]

i still miss Ruud so much.always on the score sheet at any given time.i used to love that///////////////////////
i dont miss him he dont move in the feild and dont change his place
i prefer rooney and tevez
but he was a true goal scorer that scores with the blink of the eye

[Nemanjaaa]

What a player, great to see him still cheering for us i hope they win the spanish league, then hopefully Barca wont be able to steal all the best players around Europe.

[red_devils4life]

i dont miss him he dont move in the feild and dont change his place
i prefer rooney and tevez
but he was a true goal scorer that scores with the blink of the eye

For those who have no regard for Ruud I would say this, get a life. He is brilliant and obviously a true Red Devil. He loves the club and is deservingly, one of the best strikers that has ever graced Old Trafford, The Theatre of Dreams. Ruud's killer instinct was simply phenomenal. A clinical finisher of the highest order. No one even comes close to Van the Man. He was so good, the rest of the players ended up over-using him as the short-cut to scoring goals, making us one dimensional, and predictable. As some of you over here hve said, getting rid of Ruud was one of Fergies best moves, but not because of what Ruud lacked, but because of what he offered. Credit should be given where it's due. Ruud = Legend ;)

[yangch0000]

he will always be loved by me
Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuud!!!

[7CANTONA7]

Legend! Ruuuuuuuuud!

[akash_reds]

ruud is a united legend and will always be so.........great payer and one of the best for us...he was our best player and he deserves credit for it.....

[spellbound]

Ruud was an amazing finisher but I wonder if not the team is stronger today then we ever were with Ruud? The floating around attack is so hard to defend against now with Giggsy, Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez. But sometimes I miss this target man upfront.

[red_devils4life]

comments deleted - Abo, get it right or get out. You are talking complete loads of rubbish!!! RD

What a huge load of crap! Abo, aren't you ashamed of yourself that you are just making use of these threads to increase ur posts counts?

[versa]

What a huge load of crap! Abo, aren't you ashamed of yourself that you are just making use of these threads to increase ur posts counts?

Although he does come up with something brilliant at least once after a certain number of posts? See post #3 in the we-should-win-the-league thread.

Andy Cole? :D :D

[red_devils4life]

what do you mean with ANDY COLE :mad:
ANDY COLE KEANE GIGGS SCHOLES AND YORKE SHOULD BE RESPECTED
:( ANDY COLE scored 121 goal so he is a legend

Yeah, speaking of Andy Cole's goal record...try comparing it to Ruud's amazing tally of 150 goals in 200 club appearances for United?

[abojodeh]

Yeah, speaking of Andy Cole's goal record...try comparing it to Ruud's amazing tally of 150 goals in 200 club appearances for United?
but he is no traitOR

[Red Devil]

ABO shut it - last warning!!! I am getting seriously annoyed with your persistent referals to RvN as traitor. HE IS NOT

[-zuco-]

Andy Cole went to Blackburn but you don't call him a traitor.

[Clarky101]

RUUD VAN NISTLEROOY TRA LAR LA LAR LA

what a legend to united. and for those who think his a traitor we all remember what dennis law did but look how the fans respect him. atleast he didnt move to city. good luck to ruud in madrid, a class player with a class team in a class stadium...aslong as he remembers where he is now will never have the class of united ;)

[red_devils4life]

You're simply asking for it abo, better delete that post of urs before it's too late...

[Red Devil]

he is he leaved us to madrid HE DID NOT - FERGIE sold him, big difference. HE did not ASK to go.

For your info, and I happen to know this first hand - he went to the hotel before the Charlton (H) game and was told he was not playing, and not on the bench either. He got upset and he and Fergie had a bit of a slanging match.

At approx 1200 hrs a taxi arrived at OT and Ruud got out and threw his kit into the boot of his Jag. He said "And he can screw this club" and got into his car and drove home. I knew this less than an hour later.

Then the club informed the press that they had accepted an offer from Real Madrid.

Now, shut up about him.

[fazman]

great read loved reading this a true legend

[red_devils4life]

Ruud's legendary celebration after burying the ball into the back of the net from the spot to end Le Arse' arrogant record of 49-match unbeaten streak:

YW7ApoHVy4Q

[ManUtd08]

Source: Manutd.com
come back man utd ruud

[fazman]

he went to blackburn cuz fergie told him "you will not play as you used to in the past VNR will take your place and you have to prove that you deserve to be reguare " he leaved for a reason
he wanted to play REGULAR


I think what u will find abo is that united as a whole played a more direct style with van nistlerooy and the team didnt contribute as many goals so fergie decided to shake it up and it worked van the man moved on

[Grif SA]

I miss van Nistelrooy. I think that barring Cantona, van Nistelrooy was the best striker to grace Old Trafford in the Premiership. It's a shame that Ruud was here during our worst streak in the Premiership. And it's a shame that he had to leave.

[Fergaiste]

For those who have no regard for Ruud I would say this, get a life. He is brilliant and obviously a true Red Devil. He loves the club and is deservingly, one of the best strikers that has ever graced Old Trafford, The Theatre of Dreams. Ruud's killer instinct was simply phenomenal. A clinical finisher of the highest order. No one even comes close to Van the Man. He was so good, the rest of the players ended up over-using him as the short-cut to scoring goals, making us one dimensional, and predictable. As some of you over here hve said, getting rid of Ruud was one of Fergies best moves, but not because of what Ruud lacked, but because of what he offered. Credit should be given where it's due. Ruud = Legend ;)


Well said mate . Ruud was an authentic legend. you have certainly made me consider changing my mind as regards why we got rid of Ruud. Certainly we be came overdependent on him in terms of goalscorring and maybe by not transferring him the likes of Ronaldo and Rooney to a lesser extent would not have flourished the way they have the last 2 seasons. Very similr to Arsenal's situation with henry where adebayor etc were simply in awe of him and to fulfil their potential they were better off without him.

I always liked Van the man as a person too but the falling out with Ferguson does leave a bitter taste in the mouth. Look how nearly every player in the squad gets a rest or is used as a sub in important games. Ruud's attitude was called nito question after that and Fergie was left with no alternative but to get rid.Still love him though for his goals and down to earth personality;)

[Natalie]

i miss him sooo much what i would give to see him in the red of manchester united again :(
i know the team is better with out him but the man is a legend and his time ended so badly
and when he says stuff like i thought i would finish my career at United makes me cry
and make me think why is fergie so stubbon

[spellbound]

i miss him sooo much what i would give to see him in the red of manchester united again :(
i know the team is better with out him but the man is a legend and his time ended so badly
and when he says stuff like i thought i would finish my career at United makes me cry
and make me think why is fergie so stubbon

Team first for Fergie. If the teams getting better without someone, out he goes. Love it or hate it, its been working pretty well since the golden era started in the FA cup 1990.

[jd_united]

I still have a lot of time for RVN. It was unfortunate that he left in somewhat uneasy circumstances but I think the fans and Ruud himself, still have a mutual respect between them.

Ruud was a fantastic player for us, and will go down in United history as a true goalscorer. His records, particularly in Europe, were phenominal and will never be forgotten.

I was of the same opinion as Ruud in that he would play out the rest of his career at United, but I guess it just wasn't to be. Still, at least things have worked out for both United and Ruud. He is winning league titles in Spain while we are doing the business with the likes of Rooney and Tevez.

RVN - gone but never forgotten - A United Legend!

[sparkic]

I still love Ruud and is still one of my favourite strikers...he is one of the worlds best no matter what and I can't wait to see him in Euro 08...oh how I do wish he did end is career here at OT!! It was nice of him to say such words and I bet he will be in the staduim watching lol

[yangch0000]

i hope we can face madrid next season in champions league, so we can pay our tribute to the dutch legend, he did not leave properly and we owe him a thank you.

also, kick the hell out of that other traitor. i dont even want to mention his name

[red_devils4life]

I miss van Nistelrooy. I think that barring Cantona, van Nistelrooy was the best striker to grace Old Trafford in the Premiership. It's a shame that Ruud was here during our worst streak in the Premiership. And it's a shame that he had to leave.

Nice spot there, couldn't agree more on that! Ruud's rather unfortunate to fall in between two great United sides, '99 and the present squad. However in his time at Old Trafford he was rightly seen as one of the greatest finishers of the Premier League era. Has been top scorer in three leagues (Spain, Holland, England) and is United's top scorer in European competition. Has scored goals for fun wherever he's been, 62 in 67 in the poor Dutch league was backed up by 150 in 200 at United and currently 32 in 50 at Real. A natural, potent finisher!