They used to have selection days for all the local kids and I went to these trials three times and got turned down every time. On the third time I was so upset because I thought I was not good enough. I was eight years old and I had the feeling, 'That's it, I don't want to play for Ajax any more!'
— Ryan Babel
Music has always been an important part of my life.
I like to explore the world.
It doesn't annoy me that I always get asked about my future.
I feel confident that I'm good enough to play a lot of games for Liverpool.
If you misuse the things you have been given, God has the ability to take your talent away. That's the way it is for me and that is why a lot of religious people are grateful to their God.
I left Liverpool through the back door.
England is of course a great country to play in, and I'll always be open for a return. But it has to be a club I feel good about.
America has always been a special place for me, since my youth.
Liverpool are a very good team everybody knows that and I am proud to be part of Liverpool.
Playing as a striker is a nice role because I spent all my youth there so that's why I like it.
I don't think people in England ever saw the best of me.
With Ajax and Liverpool, you win about 80 per cent of matches.
We can't all be Lionel Messi, even if we want to.
The important thing, is to believe in a better future.
I would be so proud to finish my career with a European medal.
I used to play as a striker in Holland. I grew up as a striker. That's the position I want to play.
If the vision is not right and if the right group of players is not together, it doesn't come together.
From every little territory I've been, I've picked something up, things that I could use to better my game, to take with me, and the rest I left behind.
For a lot of different reasons I didn't fulfil my potential.
I don't go to church every week.
Some people think they do it all by themselves but I believe there is more to it. I believe it is God who has given me the talent and the opportunity to be successful.
I do have a weakness for Liverpool and I do want them to be champions.
A return to the Eredivisie would be nice, but only if it's Ajax. I don't want to play for another team.
Scoring a goal is always wonderful and gives any player confidence.
There are plenty of players who have a lot of talent. It's all about getting the best out of yourself and you'll have to work very hard to achieve that.
Moving to Liverpool was a new world for me. I had been living with my parents in Holland, and all of a sudden I was living in a foreign country on my own.
For a player to really be at his best you have to give him a certain confidence, but I did not feel appreciated by some people at Liverpool.
I do think I have a thing or two to improve myself although it is difficult to reach your full potential at an average team.
I just have to try to be patient, keep working hard and doing my best.
I've tried to work as hard as possible.
My parents were very strict and had rules for me and, if ever I was playing outside, I always had a set time to come back in.
I've done so much in my career but a little part of me feels I still have unfinished business here in the Premier League.
I've said in earlier interviews maybe I should have stayed one or two more years in Holland.
For every player it's nice to go to the World Cup and it's very important to do that in your career.
If you don't believe you will end up as nothing. But if you believe a lot you can create a lot.
I was loved in Liverpool, I had good relationship with the fans and my team-mates but I felt I could do better.
The striker role, together with someone else, is pretty good for me.
If it fits in with my career, it will be a challenge for me to play for a MLS team. If that would be Steven Gerrard's club, that would be very special.
Yes, there is a lot of competition for places at Liverpool but that's the same at every top club. It was like that when I was at Ajax and that isn't a problem for me.
I have enough confidence at the moment to say that I have the potential to play at the same level as Arjen Robben or Franck Ribery.
Rafa Benitez promised me a certain development, but very quickly he took away that promise and it was a totally different situation.
I still believe I can be a striker but, if you want to be a striker, you have to think more about yourself and that's why you are a striker.
I enjoyed my time in Germany, I definitely rate the league as it develops well and you have quite a lot of teams that play good football.
I tried to go to places I'd enjoy playing.
When you can win with a couple of goals, it is always really good for confidence.
