Drenthe and his period in Russia: “Vladikavkaz is a destroyed city, at least we had vodka!”

Soccer star at eighteen, bought by Real at just twenty and sent away at twenty-three. Among the many strange experiences of Drenthe there are also six months in Russia … truly unforgettable.

Soccer star at eighteen, bought by Real at just twenty and sent away at twenty-three. It certainly cannot be said that Royston Drenthe’s was not a flash career, in every sense. But what seemed like the luck of a lifetime, the arrival at the Bernabeu, marked him. After that experience, the Dutch full-back played only in teams that were certainly not exceptional and now, at the age of 35, after a first retirement and a career as a rapper, he is under contract with Real Murcia, a Spanish third division club. It is also a little fault of him and of a life that is not really a professional. His public confessions explain this well.

Like the one that happened to the microphones of RTVRijnmond, in which the Dutchman some time ago recounted a very particular period of his career: the six months spent in Russia. After five years with Real, an at least unexpected offer arrives: that of Alania Vladikavkaz. The full-back is convinced to try the Prem’er-Liga experience, but quickly realizes that it wasn’t a great idea. Also because the town, in the heart of the Caucasus, is not exactly the best for those between Rotterdam, Madrid and Liverpool (at the time of Everton) who lived in places where there is a lot of fun. “Vladikavkaz wasn’t the ideal place. It’s a destroyed city. You couldn’t do anything fun, even if you had a lot of money.”

From a footballing point of view, the story ends badly, because Alania relegates and the following year does not even enroll in the second division. For Drenthe these are six months to forget, also considering that due to injuries he only takes the field six times, still managing to score three goals. But there is something the Dutchman will always remember … “Vodka. We drank it often, it was one of the cornerstones. It wasn’t hard to get used to, we also had vodka on the team bus. In Russia it is like that. “. And imagine how he could have taken this … series service one who has always loved having fun like Drenthe. That he might not have much to do in the city, but he certainly couldn’t complain about the lack of drinks!