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Van loving Real life

Image: Van der Vaart: Enjoying life at Bernabeu

Rafael van der Vaart insists he wants to stay at Real Madrid after enjoying a run in the side.

Dutch playmaker has no intention of leaving Bernabeu

Rafael van der Vaart insists he wants to stay at Real Madrid after enjoying a run in the side. The Dutch playmaker struggled to make an impact in his first season in Spain following his switch from Hamburg in the summer of 2008. He was then pushed further down the pecking order after the multi-million pound arrivals of Kaka and Xabi Alonso this summer, prompting many to believe that he would follow fellow Dutchmen Wesley Sneider, Arjen Robben and Klaas Jan Huntelaar out of the club. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was thought to be lining up a £6 million bid for the 26-year-old but an injury to Kaka has now changed the situation. Van der Vaart is enjoying a run in the Spanish giants' side, scoring a quick-fire brace in the 6-0 hammering of Real Zaragoza at the weekend, and says he is happy to stay on at the Bernabeu until the end of the season at least. The Dutchman said: "My intention is to finish the season here and see out the contract that I have with Real Madrid. "I am very happy and believe I am playing very well at the moment."