Van Basten will step down as Holland manager after the EURO to take over at Ajax.

"He has told me that he wants me to stay. He said that he wants to build a competitive team that can win important trophies in Europe and for that he needs people like me to stay on," Huntelaar told Spanish newspaper AS.

Real Madrid identified the 24-year old striker as a top transfer target after scoring 34 league goals for Ajax last season.

Huntelaar hasn't played in the EURO 2008 until now as Ruud Van Nistelrooy is Van Basten's number one choice in the front line.

"Well, I thought 'And this guy wants me to stay at Ajax?' Of course that's a joke. But we'll see what happens," added the Ajax striker.