Ruud van Nistelrooy has paved the way for a return to the Premier League by admitting that he will leave Real Madrid if he does not play for the Spanish club between now and the January transfer window.

The former Manchester United striker believes that he has to get minutes if he is to claim a place in the Holland squad for the World Cup but currently has Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuain, Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of him.

“I want to play,” said van Nistelrooy. “I still haven’t spoken to [Real Madrid coach] Manuel Pellegrini because I’m still recovering [from a thigh injury] but when I am ready I will speak to him. If I do not get minutes, that will give me a reason to leave in January.

“My intention is to play at the World Cup with Holland. If I do not play, that will be impossible because I need to be able to prove that I can still play at the level I did a few months ago [before the injury]. That said, right now I do not have any club.”

Tottenham Hotspur are reported to have shown an interest in the 33-year-old, who scored 95 goals in 150 appearances for United before joining Real in 2006.