Rafael Van Der Vaart: Being Dropped Was Hard

Real Madrid's Rafael van der Vaart has voiced his dismay at being dropped after only a few chances to impress and adapt to life in Spain.

Rafael van der Vaart believes that being dropped early on during his time at Real Madrid had such a detrimental effect on him that he is only now regaining his confidence.

The Dutch international joined from Hamburg in the summer after Los Merengues ended their pursuit of Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo. Since then, he has only shown his ability in flashes.

Reflecting on the first half of the season, Van der Vaart explained the reasons that he has struggled in Madrid.

"Everything was going well at the beginning of the season. I had a great feeling [about my future]," he told the club's official website.

"I do not think I was playing poorly but I was named on the bench for a few matches. It is not easy being a substitute because I have been a starter throughout most of my career."

"After a few months here I found myself on the bench all the time and that was not easy. I also was in the middle of looking for a house because I had spent three months in a hotel, and my wife was still working in Germany."

"But I [have] signed for five years and I hope to be here longer. I want to be an important part of Real Madrid's history and win many titles because that is what I have always dreamed about."