Royston Drenthe returns to Spain with Racing Murcia after failed rap career

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 19 May 2021 12:39 BST
• 2 min read

Royston Drenthe has signed for the 12th club of his career after agreeing a contract with Spanish third division side Racing Murcia.

The journeyman winger had previously retired from football in order to pursue a music career under the rap moniker, Roya2Faces.

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After that didn’t work out, similar to a subsequent small acting career, he returned to the game with Sparta Rotterdam in 2018 before eventually moving to Kozzaken Boys.

Now, he has earned a free transfer back to Spain with Racing Murcia, having previously featured for Real Madrid in La Liga.

Drenthe burst on to the senior club scene with Feyenoord in 2005, where he flourished into one of the most promising young players in Europe. His reputation got stronger in the summer of 2007 when he won the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship with the Netherlands, where he was also named the player of the tournament.

Thereafter, he would earn the biggest move of his career, moving to Real Madrid for a fee of €14m.

Things ultimately didn’t work out for Drenthe at the Santiago Bernabeu, as he found himself in and out of the team whether it be to form, a lack of fitness, or simply not being in the head coach’s plans.

Loan deals at Hercules and Everton soon followed, but the Dutchman’s attitude came under question, particularly at Goodison Park.

After being allowed a period of compassionate leave by the club, Drenthe returned late and was subsequently asked to stay away from training.

Spells at Alania Vladikavkaz, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, Kayseri Erciyesspor, Baniyas, Sparka Rotterdam, and Kozakken Boys followed.

At the age of 33, he is now back in Spain with Real Murcia, though recent pictures emerged of him overweight in training meaning that a debut might not happen as quickly as he would have hoped.

Drenthe has had troubles away from football recently, too, as he was recently declared bankrupt by a Dutch court.