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Jose opens door for Ruud

Image: Van Nistelrooy: Linked with Real return

Jose Mourinho has revealed he would be 'very happy' if Ruud van Nistelrooy returns to Real Madrid.

Real boss would welcome back Dutchman

Jose Mourinho has revealed he would be 'very happy' if Ruud van Nistelrooy returns to Real Madrid. The Dutchman scored 46 goals in 68 games over a three-and-a-half-year period with the Spanish giants before departing for Hamburg last January. He has now been linked with a move away from the German club despite stating that he intends to honour his current contract, which expires in the summer. Mourinho has made no secret of his desire to bring in another striker this month after Gonzalo Higuain underwent back surgery which is likely to rule him out for the rest of the season. And the Portuguese tactician has admitted he would welcome Van Nistelrooy back to the club as he has a lot of admiration for the 34-year-old. "There are lots of names being mentioned," Mourinho said at a news conference at Real's Valdebebas training ground outside Madrid on Saturday when asked about the former Holland international. "If in the end it's Ruud I'll be very happy. We coincided in England and I know him well as a player and a person. I'd be very happy if it's him. "It would be very good for us to have another attacker because we are not many and we have a lot of matches to play."