Van Nistelrooy quits Oranje

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The 32-year-old feels he will be unable to perform for both club and country in future and has chosen to focus all his energies on the former.

Van Nistelrooy struck 33 goals in 64 appearances over a 10-year decade for the Oranje.

"After I looked again at the programmes of Real Madrid and Oranje I came to the conclusion that I had to make a choice, because of the necessary physical effort to achieve the maximum at this level," the former Manchester United frontman said.

"The combination of on the one hand the league, cup and Champions League games of Real Madrid and on the other hand the programme of the Dutch national team is a to heavy burden. I have no other choice."

Van Nistelrooy initially retired in January 2007 after being omitted from the Holland squad by former coach Marco van Basten following a disappointing 2006 World Cup campaign.

But, after bridges were built between the pair, van Nistelrooy returned to the international fold and scored twice at Euro 2008 as the Dutch reached the quarter-finals.

The former PSV Eindhoven forward admitted he had not taken the decision to retire from the international scene lightly.

"Of course you don't decide it in one second," he said. "I had a very fine tournament with Oranje and I look back at that with a good feeling."