New Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has revealed he did not leave Real Madrid a year ago because his wife developed breast cancer.

Holland star Van der Vaart was set to be sold by the Spanish giants last summer but refused to move on while model wife Sylvie was undergoing what proved to be successful treatment.

Van der Vaart also shed light on the discrepancy between Spurs boss Harry Redknapp's claim that he had been the subject of an £18million bid from Bayern Munich last month, and Real's insistence that he had not been, by confirming the German giants made an offer for him but that it was not "concrete".

Atletico Madrid did try to buy the 27-year-old, however, but Real did not want to sell to their city rivals, instead accepting Tottenham's last-gasp £8million bid on transfer deadline day.

Van der Vaart told Marca: "Thank God my wife is now perfectly okay.

"She had a very serious illness and it is true that she had to be treated at the Clinica Quiron.

"Last season, they wanted me to leave but I couldn't leave for that reason.

"Now she is well and the only thing that happened was that Madrid wanted to sell and I wanted to get back to enjoying playing football, and Tottenham are a great team that are going to give me the football opportunities that I need."

Of Bayern's interest, he added: "The offer from Bayern never ended up being concrete.

"In the end, only Atletico Madrid pushed but neither I nor the club wanted me to go there."

There have been suggestions new Real boss Jose Mourinho was reluctant to let Van der Vaart leave and that sporting director Jorge Valdano was behind his departure.

Van der Vaart said: "I don't want to speak badly about anybody - I have too much respect for the club."

The midfielder added that he would love to return to the Bernabeu in what is Spurs' debut Champions League season.

"It's a shame that some Madrid fans were sad that I was sold but I'm sure we will see each other again soon," he said.

"It would be a dream to go back to the Bernabeu with Tottenham. I would feel at home.

"It was sad for me to leave. I have a lot of good friends in the dressing room. The fans have always treated me well and I have a great opinion of Mourinho. He has won everything."

Meanwhile, Heurelho Gomes reckons Tottenham's feelgood factor can help them continue their progress in the Premier League and on into Europe.

Spurs finished fourth last season and Redknapp then safely guided his men into the lucrative group stages of the Champions League and a place among the elite clubs of European football.

When Tottenham's players return from the international break next weekend, they will be looking to prove a shock 1-0 home defeat to struggling Wigan was a minor blip ahead of the European trip to Werder Bremen and the small matter of a Carling Cup clash against old rivals Arsenal.

Brazil keeper Gomes feels White Hart Lane is a good place to be at the moment.

"I love the atmosphere here," Gomes said in the September edition of the official club magazine, Hotspur.

"I try to build a good relationship with the supporters because I like to feel together as one with them. They make the club what it is."

Gomes continued: "We operate in a very good atmosphere and that can only help.

"It ensures team unity and with it a feeling that anything and everything is possible. The team spirit here is great.

"It has to be that way because the Premier League is so tough. You must band together to succeed."

Juventus coach Luigi Del Neri is more than satisfied with the make-up of his squad, despite the sale of Brazilian star Diego to Wolfsburg.

Diego returned to the Bundesliga just one season after joining the Turin giants from Werder Bremen.

The player moved to the German club for 15.5 million euros last month, almost 10million less than what Juve paid for him last summer.

"Regarding Diego's transfer, it is the club that needs to give an explanation," said Del Neri to Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I can only say that he is a great player and I wish him the best of luck in Germany but with (new signing Fabio) Quagliarella we have more presence in the heart of the area.

"Our Diego is called (Alessandro) Del Piero. He is a very important player for Juventus.

"I am happy with the transfer market."

Italian pair Alberto Aquilani, on a season-long loan from Liverpool, and Quagliarella were among the acquisitions made by Juve this summer.

Italy international Marco Borriello came close to signing for Manchester City earlier this week, according to his agent.

The AC Milan striker was loaned to Serie A side Roma on the final day of the transfer window after turning down a loan switch to Juventus.

The 28-year-old was also strongly linked to Real Madrid and the Premier League side.

"It could have ended differently," said Borriello's agent Tiberio Cavalleri to Corriere dello Sport.

"On Monday, I had a call from (Manchester City coach Roberto) Mancini saying he wanted the player (Borriello) to go to Manchester City.

"On Tuesday, Real Madrid made an approach but then (Real's Karim) Benzema said no to (a move to) Marseille and that's when Roma came into the picture."

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has thanked owner Silvio Berlusconi for bankrolling a spending spree just before the transfer window closed.

Milan have snapped up Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Barcelona and Robinho from Manchester City over the last week, giving the Rossoneri a better chance of ending Inter Milan's recent Serie A dominance.

And Allegri, who only joined Milan over the summer, is pleased with the acquisitions.

"I am delighted with the arrival of Ibrahimovic," said Allegri.

"I didn't expect an added reinforcement of the calibre of Robinho.

"It's a very nice present from Berlusconi and I thank him from the bottom of my heart."

Allegri believes Milan are now better equipped to challenge on all fronts, including the Champions League.

"We have a team of the top level even in Europe," said Allegri, who replaced Leonardo at the helm of the Rossoneri.

"We must go all the way to the final at Wembley."

Milan started the Serie A campaign with a 4-0 triumph over Lecce last week.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he was not interested in joining Manchester City this summer as they are not yet ready to challenge for big prizes.

Ibrahimovic joined AC Milan initially on loan with a view to a permanent move last week after an unhappy spell at Barcelona.

City were reported to be interested in signing the Sweden international after Barcelona made it clear they were willing to offload the skilful attacker.

However, Ibrahimovic has hinted he rejected a move to Eastlands with Roberto Mancini's side still in the early stages of their development.

"City must fight Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal - sides which took years to build," said Ibrahimovic.

"City are still a side for the future. I chose Milan because they are a team that can win prizes now.

"City can wait for the future but I can't."

Ibrahimovic says he had no choice but to leave Barcelona after falling out of favour with coach Pep Guardiola.

"The problems began in March. I asked for an explanation, but he did not give it to me," added Ibrahimovic.

"I couldn't take it. I had no choice but to find a new place of work and I was lucky to go to a club like Milan.

"I will soon be 29 years old and cannot afford to lose a year sitting on the bench and watching the weather. I saw what happened last season with Thierry Henry."