Rafael Van der Vaart staying at the Bernabeu
Holland coach Bert van Marwijk has backed Rafael van der Vaart's decision to remain at Real Madrid.
Van der Vaart was expected to leave the Bernabeu before the transfer window closed last week but is believed to have shunned several offers to stay in Spain.
The former Ajax and Hamburg midfielder was not in the Madrid squad for their season-opener against Deportivo La Coruna and played for just the final 15 minutes in Holland's weekend friendly win against Japan.
Van Marwijk is entitled to be concerned as to how much club football van der Vaart will play this season but the Oranje boss is adamant the player has made the right decision.
"It's a decision which has a risk attached to it," he said.
"But he has told me he thinks he will get some playing time. For me, it's a good choice.
"He also has some issues in his private life which came into it."
Van der Vaart may take on a more prominent role in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Scotland in Glasgow due to Wesley Sneijder's ankle injury which could restrict the Inter Milan playmaker to a place on the bench
And with the Dutch already assured of top spot in Group Nine and a place in South Africa next summer, van Marwijk may shuffle his pack at Hampden Park.
One regular first-teamer who is likely to play, however, is Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
Stekelenburg injured a finger in training on Friday and missed the weekend clash against the Japanese.
Utrecht stopper Michel Vorm started in his place with Vitesse Arnhem's Piet Velthuizen coming on at half-time but Stekelenburg will return at Hampden.
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