United heartache inspired RuudRuud van Nistelrooy revealed his heartbreak at leaving Manchester United last summer helped inspire him to finish the Spanish season as a league champion with Real Madrid and as La Liga's top goalscorer.
The Dutch striker claimed the title in his first season with Real on Sunday night as Fabio Capello's side held off the challenge of great rivals Barcelona to triumph by virtue of a superior head-to-head record.
Real's victory comes 12 months after van Nistelrooy was unceremoniously dumped by Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, a moment that left the prolific striker hurting.
However, van Nistelrooy responded in tremendous fashion by leading the Liga goalscoring charts with 25 strikes, and the Real hero explained his pain at leaving United was the driving force behind his annus mirabilis at the Bernabeu.
"In my first season here having a season like this, winning the league and finishing top scorer, it is great," van Nistelrooy told Sky Sports News.
"I couldn't imagine I would have a season like this, scoring 25 in the league, and I just feel the hard work has paid off with this. It's great to be part of a team like this.
"It was difficult to leave United to be fair, that broke my heart but I had to pick things up and I got the motivation to get the best out of me again and start all over again.
"Now I am just happy that we won and that the season was tremendous. I just want to thank all the United fans that have supported me over the last year, and still do."
Van Nistelrooy also paid tribute to fellow United old boy David Beckham as he signed off before leaving for America with his first major trophy in Real colours.
Van Nistelrooy added: "The people here are so happy for him, they adore him and he deserves it."
Ruud won the Primera Liga and United won the EPL.