Former Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has revealed that the signings of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Kaka in 2010 led to his departure from the club, according to Sportskeeda. In an interview with Gary Neville's YouTube channel, The Overlap, van Nistelrooy explained that the arrival of the trio made it difficult for him to get playing time, leading to his decision to leave the Santiago Bernabeu.
Van Nistelrooy joined Real Madrid in 2006 from Manchester United and had a successful spell, winning two La Liga titles and a Supercopa de Espana. However, injuries took their toll on him, and he saw his game time and influence reduce. Despite his impressive goal-scoring record, van Nistelrooy was deemed surplus to requirements by the club, and he eventually left for Hamburg in 2010.
The signings of Ronaldo, Benzema, and Kaka marked a new era of success for Real Madrid, with the trio contributing to the club's La Decima and numerous other titles. Van Nistelrooy's departure from the club was a result of the club's desire to strengthen their attack with younger and more dynamic players.
In the interview, van Nistelrooy reflected on his time with Real Madrid and his decision to leave the club, saying, "Real Madrid signed Cristiano, Benzema, Kaka... I had injuries and I was out for a long time. They told me it would be difficult to get minutes here. I understood, it was fair enough."
Van Nistelrooy's legacy at Real Madrid is still remembered fondly by fans, despite his relatively short spell at the club. His goalscoring record and contributions to the team's success during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu will always be appreciated by the Real Madrid faithful.