In 2009, football powerhouse Real Madrid had a collection of Dutch players including Ruud van Nistelrooy, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Rafael van der Vaart, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Royston Drenthe. But there have been some other top players to come through the system through the past years.
Wesley Sneijder
The attacking midfielder Wesley Sneijder signed with Real Madrid for €27 million in 2007 and won La Liga in his first season. Unfortunately, his time at the club came to a halt two years later when he transferred to Inter Milan.
Arjen Robben
Transferring to Real Madrid for a £24 million fee, the pacy Dutch winger Arjen Robben played 65 games with the Los Blancos and scored 13 goals. During his brief two years with the club, he snagged one League trophy before being sold to Bayern Munich.
Rafael van der Vaart
The attacking midfielder Rafael van der Vaart played for Real Madrid for two years, earning 73 appearances and scoring 12 goals. In 2008, he was nominated for the Ballon D’Or and helped the team win a Spanish Super Cup. However, newly appointed coach Manuel Pellegrini limited his playing time and the player transferred to Tottenham.
Ruud van Nistelrooy
The prolific scoring Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy bagged 64 goals in his 96 caps with Real Madrid. He was the team’s top scorer in the 2006-07 season. A two-time La Liga champion, he suffered injuries in the latter half of his tenure for the club.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
The striker played just half a season with Los Blancos before transferring to AC Milan. In that short window, he earned 20 caps and scored eight goals.
Royston Drenthe
The left midfielder Royston Drenthe played a couple of seasons with Real Madrid before being loaned to Hercules and Everton. He earned 65 caps with the club, scoring four goals.
Clarence Seedorf
The versatile central midfielder Clarence Seedorf played 159 games over four years for Los Blancos, scoring 20 goals. Winner of La Liga, he also played a vital role in guiding the side to a Champions League victory in the 1997-98 season.
