Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy joined Bundesliga Hamburg SV from Real Madrid on an 18-month contract, the German club said on Saturday.

"The 33-year-old striker gets a contract until June 30, 2011," the club announced on their website.

Hamburg are fifth in the league on 34 points from 19 matches, five off the top.

Van Nistelrooy played 68 games for Real since 2006, scoring 46 goals. He has also been capped 64 times by Netherlands.

File photo shows Real Madrid's Ruud van Nistelrooy plays the ball against Sporting during their Santiago Bernabeu trophy soccer match in Madrid August 27, 2008.

The striker, who has also played for Manchester United and PSV Eindhoven, has not played in the last two months due to a muscle injury.

Van Nistelrooy was a central figure in Real Madrid's two title- winning seasons in 2007 and 2008, but needed surgery to repair damaged cartilage in his right knee late in 2008 that put him out for the rest of that campaign.

Van Nistelrooy's chances were limited with the arrival of Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, to bolster Real's existing frontline of Gonzalo Higuain and Raul.

Van Nistelrooy is desperate to get matches under his belt as he eyes a spot in the Netherlands World Cup squad for this year's finals.

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