Tottenham’s Rafael van der Vaart: I wanted Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals & it’s a dream to be going back to the Bernabeu

EPL,Rafael van der Vaart,Tottenham Hotspur vs Bolton Wanderers(Getty Images)

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Tottenham‘s Rafael Van der Vaart is relishing a return to the Bernabeu after his north London side were drawn against Spanish giants Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final.

Spurs are enjoying a huge amount of success in their inaugural season in Europe’s flagship club competition, beating both sides from Milan on their way to the last eight of the tournament and now face their biggest test so far in the form of Jose Mourinho’s star-studded squad.

Former Real Madrid man Van der Vaart spent two seasons at the Bernabeu and is looking forward to a date in the Spanish capital.

The midfielder told Spurs’ official website: “I was happy when the draw was made. I had hoped this would happen because it will be fantastic to go back to Madrid.

“I have a lot of friends there and it will be great to see them all. It’s a big game, first leg away which is good for us, so I’m happy.

“For me, it’s the biggest club in the world. Of course Barcelona are the best team in the world at this moment but you can feel the history and how big the club is when you arrive at the stadium.

“The Bernabeu is fantastic. It’s a great pitch, the stadium holds 90,000 and it’s a fantastic feeling to play there. I played there for two years and had a great time there, so it’s a dream to be going back.”

The 28-year-old is confident ahead of the tie and insists that Spurs can play without pressure against the La Liga club.

He added: “We don’t have pressure, we can play our game and we have a chance I’m sure.”