HAMBURG, Germany (AFP) - Despite being courted by Italian giants Juventus, Hamburg's want-away Dutchman Rafael van der Vaart seems to have cooled over a move to Italy.

The 24-year-old midfielder, worth 23 million euros (33.7 million US dollars) in the market, had been set to move to Valencia in the summer until his club blocked a deal and Hamburg admitted last week they have spoken to Juventus about transferring him.

But in an interview in German magazine Focus, van der Vaart says Spain is his preferred destination followed by England with Italy a distant third.

"Spain is my absolute favorite, because my mother Lolita is Spanish," said the Dutchman, with January's transfer window set to close on February 1.

Van der Vaart is under contract at Hamburg until June 2010, but can be released on a fixed transfer of 1.5 million euros (2.2 million US dollars) in 2009, so for Hamburg to get their money's worth the Dutchman will need to leave this summer.

Van der Vaart was heavily fined by Hamburg when he was photographed last August with a Valencia shirt and the Dutchman has made no secret of his desire to play Champions League football.