Van der Vaart spent three memorable seasons with the Bundesliga club before transferring to Madrid last summer, but he insists that was not the last time the Hamburg fans will get to see him in their colours.

"I will come back to HSV some day. I know I will," he told the Bild newspaper.

However, the Hamburg fans will have to wait at least one more season before welcoming the Dutchman back as he intends to prove a point, despite this summer's arrivals of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo in Madrid.

"The time is not yet right (to return) because I have a gut feeling which tells me so," he added.

"It is a great honour for me to play together with the best players in the world.

"I can also learn a great deal from them."