Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain has revealed he received a valuable piece of advice from former team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy when he arrived at the Bernabeu: to treat goals like ketchup.

The 22-year-old has been in stunning form this season and has scored 16 goals in 18 appearances for his club. The former River Plate player, who netted a brace last weekend, also notched the only goal of the game for Argentina in their midweek victory over Germany.

And Higuain, who was just 19 when he signed for Real, believes some of the credit for his goalscoring prowess must go to Van Nistelrooy and his words of wisdom.

"Ruud told me that goals are like ketchup," he told La Sexta. "Sometimes, as much as you try, they don't come out, and then they come all of a sudden."

Ruud told me that goals are like ketchup. Sometimes, as much as you try, they don't come out, and then they come all of a sudden.
Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain on the advice he received from Ruud van Nistelrooy

Speculation was rife in the summer that Higuain was set to leave Real after they splashed out on the likes of Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, with Manchester City, Chelsea, Juventus and Inter Milan said to be among the interested parties.

However, the France-born attacker, who was the club's leading marksman last term, is well on course to take the Pichichi trophy, which is awarded to La Liga's top scorer.

Los Merengues are said to be keen to offer Higuain a new deal which would see him receive a salary hike, putting him on a par with the likes of Benzema, and he is hoping to sign on the dotted line soon.

"I hope we can reach an agreement as soon as possible," Higuain said. "But my family and agent are dealing with that. I'm dedicating myself to playing football, which is what I most enjoy."