Netherlands striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy announces that he will not play for the international team, the Dutch Football Association says.
"After studying the schedule of Real Madrid and the Dutch team I realized... playing for both teams would mean too tough a physical load for me and therefore I made this choice," Reuters quoted the Real Madrid player as saying on Monday.
Netherlands new coach Bert van Marwijk who succeeded Marco van Basten on July 1 expressed his regret about Van Nistelrooy's decision.
"I had a comprehensive conversation with Ruud and I can do nothing else but respect his decision," Van Marwijk said.
Van Nistelrooy won 64 caps and scored 33 goals for the Dutch team after making his debut in 1998.
A knee injury caused Van Nistelrooy to miss Euro 2000 but he scored four goals at the 2004 European Championship finals in Portugal.
He scored once at the 2006 World Cup in Germany and twice at Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland.
The Dutch man joined Real Madrid from Manchester United for a 15 million euro ($23.39 million) transfer fee in July 2006.
"After studying the schedule of Real Madrid and the Dutch team I realized... playing for both teams would mean too tough a physical load for me and therefore I made this choice," Reuters quoted the Real Madrid player as saying on Monday.
Netherlands new coach Bert van Marwijk who succeeded Marco van Basten on July 1 expressed his regret about Van Nistelrooy's decision.
"I had a comprehensive conversation with Ruud and I can do nothing else but respect his decision," Van Marwijk said.
Van Nistelrooy won 64 caps and scored 33 goals for the Dutch team after making his debut in 1998.
A knee injury caused Van Nistelrooy to miss Euro 2000 but he scored four goals at the 2004 European Championship finals in Portugal.
He scored once at the 2006 World Cup in Germany and twice at Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland.
The Dutch man joined Real Madrid from Manchester United for a 15 million euro ($23.39 million) transfer fee in July 2006.
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