Ruud van Nistelrooy was the cover boy of Marca today, on the eve of his departure to Hamburg.  Inside, we get a nice interview of him reflecting on his time in Madrid and his thoughts for the future.  Highlights below:

Q:  After three and a half years in Madrid, it’s time to say goodbye.

A:  Saying goodbye to Real Madrid will be really hard.  I don’t know if I’ll be able to resist crying in the Bernabéu, because the fans have always been very affectionate with me.  It’ll be hard not to cry.

Q:  Why did you decide not to stay?

A:  It was one of the most difficult decisions of my career, but I felt like I needed to play, and Hamburg is giving me the opportunity to do so.  I need to play… I wouldn’t leave Madrid for any club; I thought a lot about this decision.  Money wasn’t a factor, I just wanted to play and Hamburg gave me that opportunity.

Q:  Do you plan on returning to Madrid when you retire from football?

A:  Why not?  Madrid has left the doors open… They told me that I could help out in some way in the future, so we’ll see.

Q:  Have you said goodbye to your teammates yet?

A:  No, not yet.  I didn’t want to face that moment, and since the transfer was not made official until nighttime, I delayed that moment.  I’ll have to do so after the game and it’ll be difficult…

Q:  Which of your teammates will you miss the most?

A:  All of them, but I have a special relation with Casillas, Ramos, Mahamadou, Guti and Raúl, because we’re the only ones left from the Capello era.  I’m going to miss them a lot.

Q:  And what’s your family’s view of this change?

A:  They’re supportive, but also sad.  My wife is very happy in Madrid, and my two kids are madrileños with their friends here… It won’t be easy for them, but we’ll also be closer to home.  But, today in Hamburg it was -7° – I don’t know what my wife is going to say about that… [laughs].

Q:  What was your best moment in Madrid?

A:  My first Liga, because we were losing, but were able to win, showing that anything is possible in football.  I’ve never been through anything like that professionally.  That day in Cibeles was the best… incredible.

Q:  And your best goal?

A:  I’ve scored all types of goals, but it’ll have to be the two I scored in La Romareda for what they signified.

Q:  You won the affection of the Bernabéu through goals…

A:  Yes, but there was something more than goals.

Q:  What?

A:  I’m not sure, but I felt the affection even before my first game.  I always had a feeling.  Maybe I made a good impression on them.

Q:  What message would you like to leave the fans with?

A:  I would like to tell them thank you, that I love them.  And that I hope they enjoy the team.  They can win anything, they’re the best.