The 26-year-old joined Real from German side Hamburg last summer but struggled to live up to expectations.

"Everything was going well at the beginning of the season. I had a great feeling. I don't think I was playing poorly, but I was benched for a few matches," he told Marca.

"It's not easy to get used to being a reserve because I had been a starter throughout most of my career. After a few months here I found myself on the bench.

"It's not easy. I also was in the middle of looking for a house because I had spent three months in a hotel and my wife was still working in Germany."

Van der Vaart has scored four goals since his arrival but is yet to replicate the form that saw him excel in his previous stints with Hamburg and Ajax Amsterdam.

"I signed for five years, but I hope to be here many more years. I want to be an important part of Real Madrid's history and win many titles. That's what I've always dreamed about," he added.