The 33-year-old has completed a move to Bundesliga side Hamburg on an 18-month contract.
“I’m leaving for Hamburg, which is a great opportunity to continue my career, but saying goodbye to Real Madrid is very difficult,” he told Marca.
“I don’t know if I’m going to hold the tears at the Bernabeu, because the affection that the fans have always given me has been incredible, spectacular.
“I’m going to find it hard not to cry.
“It has been one of the most difficult decisions of my career, but I felt I had to play and Hamburg gave me a great opportunity.
“The coach and president called me and told me I’m going to be very important.
“And I need to play, because I cannot go two years without playing. I only want to play and Hamburg gave me this opportunity.
“I’m very sad to be leaving Madrid, but happy at the same time because I’m not leaving through the back door.”
“When I started the season I was convinced I was going to play. I felt very good and I knew that I was going to have my moment,” he added.
“But I’ve not been lucky. The injury against Xerez, when I scored, did me a lot of damage. Another month out.
“Still, that goal gave me strength to continue fighting and getting back to play. I had some minutes in the San Siro and in the Copa del Rey, but I had another problem in the calf and it was annoying.
“And now there are only four months to go to the end of the season and I know that I was going to have few opportunities (at Madrid).
“I’m the fifth striker, behind Cristiano (Ronaldo), Pipa (Gonzalo Higuain), (Karim) Benzema and Raul. You need to be realistic.”
