Rubén De la Red is living one of the sweetest moments of his life. Following the birth of his first child, he won the Euro 2008 with Spain and has returned to Real Madrid after a brilliant season with Getafe.

You went to Marbella after winning the Euro 2008. Is Spain’s victory beginning to sink in now for you?

Yes, it is. The month I spent with the national team was tough and I needed to rest during my holidays. When you win such a title you don’t truly realise what you’ve achieved at first because you simply have a great time enjoying what you’ve done.

You made your official debut against Greece and scored one goal.

I won’t deny I wanted to play more, but it was up to the coach to decide and what’s most important in a tournament like that is to support the entire group. I have very fond memories of that match. I knew I would face the Greeks and I was lucky to score, so I am very satisfied with the role I played.

Do you think your performance with Spain has cleared the doubts that rose from your end of the season with Getafe?

Everybody joins in the fun when things go well, but few are loyal to you when they don’t. My performance at Getafe was like the rest of the squad’s. I don’t think we did worse towards the end because I performed weaker. Our morale dropped after losing against Bayern Munich.

Now you have another challenge before you as a Real Madrid player.

I am very excited about it after spending one year at Getafe. I am very grateful to that club for how well they treated me; I had a great time. I return to Real Madrid, the Club I’ve played for nine years and I would like to have a strong start in order to earn a spot on the starting line-up.

Do you think being a European champion will help you?

A title like that or a medal will never give a spot as a starter on a team like Real Madrid. This only comes by training hard in every session and playing well in every game. It is useless to live from the past.

Gago will probably be in the Beijing Olympics until the end of August, during which time the team will play in the Spanish Super Cup. Do you see that as a chance to earn a spot on the starting eleven?

No. There is a fresh start for all of us in the pre-season. I won’t be in a privileged position for being here in August and he won’t miss a chance for being away. There’s also Guti and Diarra to consider. I prefer all of us to be together because competition will be stronger. The harder, the more demanding the situation will be. That will help me make progress.

Have you talked to Schuster yet?

Not yet. There will be time for that in Austria.

Haven’t you asked Casillas and Ramos about what Schuster could expect from you?

No. We had enough with the Euro (laughs).

Several important clubs are interested in you. We published that Arsenal were interested in you and that Aston Villa and Tottenham offered 20 million euros for your services. Sevilla and Valencia are also interested in you. What do you think about that?

It’s always nice when your work is acknowledged by important English and Spanish clubs; it means you are making progress and that you’re on the right track. It helps me want to do even better.

So you have no intention of joining the Premiership yet…

I haven’t shut the door to any club. I like the Premiership and how people live the matches over there. Sevilla and Valencia are great sides, but I have chosen to stay at Real Madrid and that is my priority. I have great hopes for having a great season and becoming important for the team. Nevertheless, if I was told to leave tomorrow I would have to go.

You still have some more days off while your teammates are in the Algarve. You will join them in Irdning. Are you going to enjoy spending some time with your new-born child?

Of course (laughs). You can’t possibly imagine how much I wanted the holidays to arrive. My son was born on 22 May and I had to join Spain only four days later. I was anxious to see him because he couldn’t travel to Austria. I dedicated my goal against Greece to him.