Ruud van Nistelrooy has claimed he had no choice but to leave Manchester United after his fall-out with manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Holland international left Old Trafford for Spanish giants Real Madrid last summer and helped them win their first Primera Division title in four seasons.
His time at the club came to an end because of a breakdown in his relationship with Ferguson, which started when the Scot dropped him from his Carling Cup final side in 2005.
Van Nistelrooy told CNN World Sport: "It was not only me leaving, it was the club wanting me to leave.
"They wanted me to leave because it wasn't working out between me and the manager.
"We couldn't change that, and myself and the club chose to move on without each other."
