Real Madrid’s Rafael van der Vaart Rejects Ajax Return

Rafael van der Vaart has said he will not return to Ajax if he is forced out of Real Madrid. The player believes he has better options, but coach of the Eredivisie side Martin Jol is not giving up hope.

The Dutch playmaker has had a troubled time at the Santiago Bernabeu since joining the club last year from Hamburg and has yet to be given a regular run in the team.

During the summer it looked certain that he would leave after only one season. Los Merengues' new board informed him that he was not part of their plans.

Instead, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben were sold after Madrid received good offers from Inter and Bayern Munich respectively, and Van der Vaart was kept on.

However, he has again been used sparingly by coach Manuel Pellegrini and could leave in January or at the end of the campaign. A return to his first club, Ajax, has been mooted.

"In principle I find it too early [to return]," Van der Vaart was quoted as saying by De Telegraaf.

"I do not know if I will stay at Real Madrid, but there are other options."

Jol remains hopeful that he can persuade Van der Vaart to return to the Amsterdam ArenA and form part of a unit that could rule Dutch football.

"I hope he comes. With him we would have the best midfield in Holland," the former Tottenham Hotspur coach told Sport1.

Lucas Brown, Goal.com

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