Van der Vaart: If Isco isn't a starter, I'm going home, he's the best in the world LaLiga Santander - Real Madrid MARCA Interview with the former Real Madrid and Ajax star

November saw Rafael Van der Vaart finally hang up his boots as injuries continued to make his life difficult.

Ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League meeting with Ajax next month, Van der Vaart spoke with MARCA about his career, former clubs and his highs and lows.

How are you taking to this new life away from the pitch? "Very well, although I'm sad because I miss football matches. There are times when my head wants to play, but my physical condition forced me to retire and now I am happy to focus on other things."

Was it clear that you were suffering and had to retire in November? "It was my decision, but it wasn't easy to take. After training my ankles hurt. On the last day I arrived home and told my partner that 'enough is enough', it wasn't worth going on. I don't regret having chosen this option."

Would it have been dangerous to continue? "I think so, right now I have no discomfort but if I want to play football I need to be one hundred percent and I wasn't then nor am I now. It was frustrating not being able to give my best, so I opted to hang up my boots."

If there is one moment to use My Way, this is it. It wasn't an easy decision to say goodbye to the game I love the most. But words can't express how grateful I am for those 18 wonderful years of professional football. Thank you all! pic.twitter.com/SDpmb5oSUV ? Rafael van der Vaart (@rafvdvaart) 5 de noviembre de 2018 How do you remember your last spell in Spain with Real Betis? "It was a complicated time but I don't want to speak badly of Betis because I had a good year with my teammates. Things didn't go as I wanted, but the team was good and I remember it fondly. I wish them the best, I follow them and I'm happy with how they are doing because they play good football."

We will see Real Madrid against Ajax in the Champions League, two of your former teams. How did you feel when the draw was made? "I really want to see that match against two great teams. Ajax are impressive, they have a lot of talent and they win matches playing fantastic football, which I like to see. They go out to attack, score a lot of goals, and will make it a complicated tie for Real Madrid."

How do you remember your time at both clubs? "Ajax is my home, I started there when I was 10. The other day I was visiting the club and I saw a lot of people who are still there. I was happy to say hello, it's like a family. Madrid fulfilled a dream that any child has, to wear that white shirt is something special and I think I did it well in my two years there. It was a difficult time in which we had several changes of coaches and even presidents, but I give good marks to both experiences."

At Madrid you played with Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso and more, what do you remember about those days? "I was with the best in the world - Sergio Ramos, Guti, Raul, Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema - it was something special. Playing with Cristiano, for example, was impressive. Right now everyone knows how important he was, scoring almost 60 goals a season."

Are Juventus favourites for the Champions League? "Having Cristiano is like having insurance and every team with him will be the favourite. He makes his teammates better. You give him the ball and know he can score, he is a guarantee of success."

There were a lot of Dutch in Madrid when you signed . "In the first year there were six of us. It was somewhat worse in the sense that we were together and only spoke Dutch, the next season there were fewer and I already improved my Spanish because I had to interact with people from other countries."

Back to the game, Wesley Sneijder told MARCA that Ajax are more dangerous than we in Spain think, do you agree? "It's hard to predict. In the Netherlands, people think Ajax will win for sure, but I want to remind you that Real Madrid in the Champions League are Real Madrid. It's a tough game for Ajax, they have a chance, but they need to be at their best."

Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong are linked with Barcelona and PSG, do you think they will end up leaving? "I want them to stay i Amsterdam, but it's normal they receive offers from the best because they are very good. They are impressive talents, they're among the best in the world and will have great careers. Although, they are still very young and must go step by step. De Jong reminds me of Guti, he has a lot of quality."

How much is left of the Cruyff philosophy at Ajax? "They have the same idea as Barcelona, they want to have the ball and move forward. They play against Madrid and will be like a small team without fear."

Do you think they can lose because they lack experience? "It's an advantage for Madrid, as they have a lot of experience. They are used to playing finals, it's true that Ajax have matured since the Europa League final loss against Manchester United."

You worked with Jose Mourinho at Madrid, do you think it would be good for him to return to the capital? "I like him a lot because of how he is, he's very direct. In Holland we like direct people. He's able to tell you that 'you don't play' and I would like to see him return to Madrid. Why not? He's 'the Special One' and he is a winner. I don't only like him as a person but as a coach, he has won a lot."

He was very honest with you... "Yes, he told me 'Rafa, you have to go because we have Kaka and others, the best thing for you is to leave so you can play more', which is why I went to Tottenham."

Santiago Solari's side are struggling, what do you think the solution is? "It's rare that they play so badly at home like against Real Sociedad. I don't think it's a matter of attitude. They have lost Cristiano and Zinedine Zidane, they will surely finish well and win more trophies."

You played in his position, so what is wrong with Isco? "It's crazy for me, he is the best player in the world. But, he always has problems with coaches and even Zidane never trusted him 100 percent. When I go to watch Madrid I'll see if he starts and if not, I'm going home."

The Bernabeu pushes a lot. "The pressure at Madrid is madness. When they win they are the best and when they lost they are the worst. I had to experience the worst week of my life there, but it's normal because Madrid is a great club and you have to know how to cope with it."

How can they be so bad in the league but so good in the Champions League? "That's why they are so good and nobody has won as many Champions Leagues as them, which is why they are special. When you play there you know LaLiga Santander is important, as is the cup, but Europe is another story."

Is it possible to win a fourth consecutive Champions League? "It is. If anyone can do it it's Madrid and they are never to be written off in Europe."?

Lastly, do you dare to give a prediction? "I'm bad at this, but I'll play along and say in Holland it will be 2-2."

Van der Vaart's Best Real Madrid and Ajax XI