Drenthe: Leaving Madrid was never an option!

August 6th, 2009 | by: Jan |

Royston Drenthe: Dudek help me, that Zoolander here keeps approaching me from the back!!!

Last Friday, Royston Drenthe was seated in the bus to the stadium right behind Cristiano Ronaldo, a couple of hours before the friendly against Juve. Ronaldo turned around and showed Drenthe something on his iPhone: “He had a Brazilian video clip on there,” Drenthe would later say. “Some video of some Brazilian singer with dancing girls and all that. He’s a relaxed chap, Cristiano. He’s alsmost as funny as a I am.”

Royston Ricky Drenthe is doing well. The words leave his mouth as if it’s a Gatling gun. Some months ago, he was deep deep in depression. The fans booed him and the stress got a hold of his legs.

“I actually thought I couldn’t come out of it. What a dip that was,” Drenthe says now. He asked for some time off and hired a sport psychologist to work his way out of it. And he did.

“I would never give up. I’m not like that. I started to talk to myself, you know. Dammit, Roy! What is it you want man! Do you want to succeed here? And the answer was yes: 1000%!”

Drenthe looked in the mirror, critically. “I knew I had to change. And I did. I don’t want to go into detail here, but most people will know what I mean. I became more relaxed. I try to find the real Royston and I did. I don’t listen to others anymore. People who want things from me, or like me because I’m a player at Madrid. I need to solve my problems myself. I have my manager whom I trust and my family. And that’s it.”

And today, he’s a force to be reckoned with in Madrid, despite the carnival of stars that landed this summer in Madrid. Of all the Dutchies, Drenthe is playing the most. And everyone is surprised by this, except Drenthe.

“No honestly I’m not. The other players have a bigger reputation than me and I respect them. A lot. But on the pitch, we’re all equal. Everyone needs to fight for his spot.”

He does get annoyed with the reputation he has in Holland. Everyone seems to know what’s wrong with him. “Everyone who ever had a drink with me comes out to tell the “truth” about me. But everyone who really knows me know that I’m a decent chap with a pretty balanced upbringing from both my parents. I’m not just saying this, it’s true.”

Drenthe can see his future as a left back in Madrid. Coach Pellegrini simply doesn’t have a lot of options there, with new signing Arbeloa the only other option. Brazilian Marcelo – not the best left back – is currently injured.

“You know I can play there. The coach talked to me about that spot and that gives me a good feeling. I can play at all positions on the left. I will see what happens. I’ll fight for my chances. I’m a fighter.”

Leaving Madrid was never an option for Drenthe. Even when Fiorentina wanted his signature in the summer. “I went on a holiday and told my manager I didn’t want any shenanigans. Didn’t want to deal with it. Leave me be for some weeks, you know? But during my holiday I trained every day with one goal: making it at Real. I never thought of anything else and certainly not about other clubs.”

Lots has changed in Madrid since last season. A new chairman, a new coach and new stars like Ronaldo and Kaka.

“People always complain how we make a lot of money and all that. I get that, but the pressure on these guys is tremendous. They live and breathe football and to be honest, clubs and companies make money over their backs. They’re the entertainers. People pay money to see them. It’s supply and demand. Kaka is a tremendous guy, really normal, decent and sensitive. I can only have respect for someone like him.”

Drenthe will find his way in any club selection. “I’m an easy bloke and I treat others with respect. But you do bond with the lads of your own age. C Ronaldo is a tad older than I am but we do have a bond. He’s one of those guys, you either hate him or like him. I like him. And we get along just fine.”

Drenthe was a national cuddly toy. Although that suddenly changed when the nation’s mascotte signed a million dollar deal at Madrid. The funny little kid became an overestimated rich spoilt brat. And he wasn’t good enough for Real. What was he thinking?

Well, we’re two years down the track and Drenthe is still a Real player. 38 games in the Primera and a depression behind us. Benzema is the youngest player in the selection, then comes Drenthe. Of all Dutch players, Drenthe is getting the most playing time. More than Robben and much more than Sneijder, Vaart or Hunter.

You can have an opinion about Drenthe, but he definitely didn’t fail in the Bernabeu. Last season he was courageous enough to hire a psychologist. He needed to understand himself and the crazy world around him better. And even when 5467 articles in the media set he was a wash out, he kept on fighting for his chances.

Spoilt brats don’t do that. Royston Drenthe is a winner.

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Comments

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By Mario | August 6th, 2009 at 11:19 pm

Agree with you Sonneveld. Braafheid still has to earn his spot as starter in Oranje because until now Gio is Oranje´s left back and captain.

By Tiju | August 7th, 2009 at 12:52 am

@Goose Drenthe has the winning mentality and he is a winner.He may be bit arrogant and may be lacking some footballing brain…but don’t give up on this guy.this guy has got good talent,Confidence,with Davids type workrate etc etc so My dear boy go ahead………..

Posted from India

By Mohamed | August 7th, 2009 at 2:22 am

I saw drenthe several times when he was in feynord , in 2006-2007 season , he was playing as a holding midfielder ..
He wasn’t that genius player actually , but he wasn’t bad ,
in the u- 21 euro champioship , i was surprised by his performance , he played as a LMf , oh my god ! Is he really the same guy who i saw playing for feynord ? , i couldn’t belive !What a talent !
I was happy that holland has a player like that , defensive skills , amazing speed and powerful shots like r.carlos ,
dribbling skills like ronaldinho,Davids work-rate , oh , this coach ( foppe de haan ) is genius , he could show drenthe’s talent , could get his best . Good job !
then , i knew that drenthe moved to that shite club real madrid , wrong move .. He has to prove himself first with feynord ,then he can go wherever he wants , he is too young , he won’t succeed there , i told myself ) , and that was exactly what happened , he didn’t find the trust that de haan gave to him in madrid , 2 seasons passed , and he couldn’t do anything , but it seems that pellegrini will give him this trust , i really feel he can succeed in madrid now , he can bench arbeloa and even robben ( if he played as a winger) , he has the talent , just needs to know how to show it . Who knows , we may find him in the dutch starting line up in SA !

By Mohamed | August 7th, 2009 at 2:33 am

Pleeease guys , can you tell me how to post my country ?! I don’t know !

By Jan | August 7th, 2009 at 4:41 am

This may sound silly, but I don’t know either. I thought “it” did it automatically…. Sorry.

Which country are you in?

By Jan | August 7th, 2009 at 4:42 am

Just add your country manually yourself at the end of your comment…

By sandesh | August 7th, 2009 at 4:54 am

hope drenthe will come good and learn from cristiano. i think drenthe is better of as a left winger. his dribbling skills are way too better than his defensive abilities. right now i am really worried about Rafael van der Vaart. i believe in his abilities but he needs to play as many minutes as possible for a good club before the WC campaign. Ruud still has strking abilities though he was out for most of the time last season . Pellegrini has grat beleif in him – i think so. Real will not let Robben go as easily as they did for HUnter. Because though he will not start in every game he will be played as a super sub or may be the back up player if any of Real’s big names get injured.
About sneijder: his role as a central midfielder is all but gone as they have Xabi,Lass, Mohamadou, Gago(may leave in near future) and as an attacking mid they have Kaka. so just the two wide positions for him and becoz he is not a natural wide player, his chances appears to be very limited.
Just two hours left before the CHampions League play- offs draw. I really hope that Arsenal will get an easy draw

Posted from Nepal

By sandesh | August 7th, 2009 at 5:49 am

i am pretty nervous with Arsenal drawn against Celtic.

Posted from Nepal

By Tiju | August 7th, 2009 at 5:56 am

Many peoples in this blog love dribling skills.but i have to say one thing,if ur getting beneficiaries from a dribble then you do it otherwise dont do it.I have seen unnecessary driblings of afaleey,only one use we can waste the time by doing unnecessary dribles.
If was a player…offcourse i will try to dribble and through that i will attract two three diffenders and that will make my collegues free and then i will pass the ball to them.But i will never aim for a goal for myself.why if i am trying for my self,i will never succeed.
I would say to players like ,Elia,Castelen,Vanpersie……”Drible and attract diffenders and enjoy the game and through that make ur collegues free and give them a suitable pass for goal and dont even think about a goal for yourself.

Posted from India

By Tiju | August 7th, 2009 at 5:56 am

if i was

Posted from India

By Tiju | August 7th, 2009 at 5:57 am

@sandesh dont worry arsenal will grab it.but arasenal wont go much in CL.

Posted from India

By Mohamed | August 7th, 2009 at 6:10 am

@ jan , i’m from Egypt ,

@ sandesh , I am also worried about vdv , when i think about his situation in real madrid ,and the bad circumstances due to sylvie’s breast cancer , i feel i want to cry , no offers for him at all even from small clubs , though they won’t pay more than 13 milions £ to get one of the best playmakers in the world , i dunno what are they waiting for !!

posted from Egypt

By Firezen | August 7th, 2009 at 6:11 am

I didn’t know Marcelo was rated that lowly… but Drenthe? Good Luck.

I agree Huntelaars deal was a good one. Considering his speed… I think Serie A would suit his style. Everyone’s a twad bit older and a twad bit slower and a twad bit more tactical. And with his ability to find space, score and time and know where to make runs, he would be absolutely lethal in the Italian game.

That being said, AC Milan’s got a new coach who’s inherited a rather old squad. A squad in the middle of transition, hope Huntelaar is the tool that leads the successful youth revolution.

By the way, I have been not impressed by what I’ve seen from PSV so far… So boring to watch! Barely won, 1-0 with Marcellis? Then we go 10 man down and let them score an own goal… That being said, my worries about the defence has been starting to fade away, but we so need to get rid of Kromkamp… His form is starting to slip away… I have to say I’m actually impressed by Engelaar and Ooijer, who have been consistent. Not spectacular, but consistency is the most important quality when it comes to defending.

Maybe we should sign Zuiverloon…

Posted from Australia

By sandesh | August 7th, 2009 at 6:50 am

Tiju, i read this afternoon that celtic are interested in signing Sunil Chhetri , the Indian Striker forabout 1 mn pound-good news for u ppl huh?
The surname Chhetri is very common in Nepal and also in some parts of Bhutan. I presume Sunil is not originally from India.
Welcome Mohamed!! I still wonder why there is no flag from Egypt at the end of ur comment anyway. I hope RVDV will get a good offer from a big side. but Real are willing to sell him or willing to get rid of him more specifically.(may be in a fee less than 12 mn pound) i wonder why the clubs are not after him.
Its holland U21 vs England U21 on tuesday. good news

Posted from Nepal

By Alex | August 7th, 2009 at 6:51 am

I think Gio will be surpassed by Braafheid to be LB.
@Firezen, Kromkamp was good at AZ, only cause Adriaanse made them play so that he would be good, their entire style was made for his benefit. At Villareal and Liverpool and now PSV, u can see what he is without that. Not much. Zuiverloon is at least as good now, and will only improve further.

Posted from Netherlands

By Tiju | August 7th, 2009 at 6:56 am

@sandesh is it true?????????Unbelivable i dont think so………Indian players lacks top footballing brain it includes bhutia and chhetri….
But if it happening i would be the happiest man in india.so the died indian football will resurrect…….i am sure about that…….

Posted from India

By sandesh | August 7th, 2009 at 7:03 am

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2524377.0.0.php
check this link, Tiju

Posted from Nepal

By David | August 7th, 2009 at 7:12 am

Amazing, I live in Toronto, Real is here and I don’t see or able to read anything about the Dutch players. Any one know if they even made the trip.
Last time any great Nationals were here was back in ‘94 when they played a friendly against the Canadians before the WC. I got some great shots of Bergkamp, Overmaars and many others.

Posted from Canada

By Alex | August 7th, 2009 at 7:26 am

Real is prancing with their new bought ponies Benzema, Ronaldo, Alonso and Kaka. In a years time at least 2 of their careers will be fucked. mark my words.

Posted from Netherlands

By Alex | August 7th, 2009 at 7:27 am

Sneijder, Drenthe, Robben and V.Nistelrooij are with them i believe

Posted from Netherlands

By sonneveld | August 7th, 2009 at 8:30 am

not van nistelrooy, im going to the game so i hope sneijder drenthe and robben all play.

By Mario | August 7th, 2009 at 4:29 pm

Good luck Sonneveld!

By Jan | August 7th, 2009 at 5:56 pm

sonneveld, please write us a nice story bout your visit…

By OranjeRules | August 7th, 2009 at 7:44 pm

Watching the TFC / Real Madrid game in HD with my son, he is so pissed that Madrid are winning 3 – 0 at half time. Only Drenthe on the pitch so far! He looks good. I hope Wes and Robben get in soon!

By Ab | September 7th, 2009 at 11:32 am

@ Mohamed how could you see Drenthe play as a holding midfielder in the 06-07 season. He played in that bad season of Feyenoord at the left back position, because of the many injuries etc. Foppe de Haan u21 coach let hem play at the left midfielder position and there he was great at the u21 tournament.

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