Van Nistelrooy no longer available for Dutch team

Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will no longer be available for the Dutch national team. This was announced by the Dutch FA on Monday.

The 32 year old forward talked to Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk earlier today, and told the manager that we would not be available any longer.

The player commented on his decision: “After studying the scheduled of Real Madrid and the Dutch team, I realized that looking at the required physical effort to perform well at that level, a choice had to be made.

“The combination of the league, cup and Champions League matches of Real Madrid on one hand and the schedule of the Dutch team on the other, is too heavy for me.

“It leaves me with no other choice. Of course you don’t easily make such decisions. I had a really good European Championship with ‘Oranje’ and I look back with a good feeling,” the player concluded.

Van Marwijk did not see the decision coming: “I had a long talk with Ruud and the only thing I can and want to do is respect his decision. Of course it’s a shame that I can’t use his qualities and international experience. I hope that Ruud will do great at Real Madrid.”

Van Nistelrooy made his first international appearance in a friendly with Germany in 1998. After missing Euro 2000 as result of injury, the player did represent the national team at Euro’s 2004 and 2008 and the 2006 World Cup.

In 64 matches for the Dutch team, Van Nistelrooy scored 33 goals.