Rafael Van der Vaart was, in mid-June, the first signing for real Betis Balompié in this season. After him, another nine players have arrived to make up the squad for the Green-and-White Club. And the last one was the also Dutch international Ricky van Wolfswinkel. They both represent the oranje talent. They are now the Dutch connection in Real Betis Balompié.

The only previous player for the Netherlands ever to play in the Club was Gerrie Mühren, who gave many happy moments to Real Betis fans. The penalty he scored performing a rabona is still remembered in the stands of Benito Villamarín. Two years ago, the whole stadium observed a moment of silence in his memory.

And now, there’s a new Dutch connection with numbers 9 and 23 of Real Betis. For Van Wolfswinkel is a challenge to play beside his fellow countryman: “For me it’s perfect. We’ve got a good connection, we understand each other with just a look.” Van der Vaart also shows his admiration for his teammate: “I’ve known him for a long time. He also played in Holland, in a good team, Vitesse. He’s a great striker. He’s a big guy, strong, and he did a very good job in Portugal. I think what we need, as a team, is a striker who score goals and is dangerous in the box. And I think he’s got the ability to do that”, said the midfielder.

Van Wolfswinkel has no doubt that his adaptation will be “quick” because he likes “the city and the team”, things that he heard from Van der Vaart in a phone conversation prior to his signing for Betis: “You don’t want to know what he said to me… (laughter). No, nothing but good things. All good about the Club and the city. It was easier for me to make a decisión when I spoke with Rafa.” Also important were the talks he had with Pepe Mel and Eduardo Macià: “They made me feel like thy needed me and that I had to make sure that I was going to play. Things that I think are important for the team”, stated Ricky.

Talking about his arrival, Van Wolfswinkel explains his first training session: “I arrived and I had to go straight away to the training ground for my first training. It was a good session. It’s always good to start straight away and get to know the teammates you are going to play and work with. It was good.”

On his part, Van der Vaart reminds the support given by real Betis fans in Santiago Benabéu Stadium during the match against Real Madrid CF: “It was nice to see because I was seating among the people. It was very nice, the atmosphere was amazing. You could see that the team was fighting and when people see that they give you more power. It was great. Also we have a great Stadium here, specially when it’s sold out.” After an injury that has kept him out during the first matches, Van der Vaart has returned to the trainings with the rest of the team. “I feel very good. I’ve worked a lot in the last few weeks and I feel good. I’m ready to play against Real Sociedad.”

Van Wolfswinkel expects “a hard season, as always,” although he is eager to play in La Liga and in Real Betis. “It’s a great competition and a great Club, a good team. Now I have to fight to get a place in the team. Show my skills, be important for the team.” He has been capped two times with Holland national team, but his priority now “is to play for Real Betis and if I do well here, maybe the national team will come. But my focus is on Betis right now.”

When asked about a target number of goals for the season, Van Wolfswinkel is categorical: “I never say a number of goals. I always try to score and work hard to do it. And if I can’t score I try to make a teammate score. The team is what matters.”