La Liga: Legendary Real Madrid Striker in talks with Schalke
Real Madrid’s new manager Jose Mourinho is bringing about a revolution at Real Madrid as he looks to guide them to a successful new season which starts from August 28th 2010. Raul the legendary Madrid born striker who has been playing for the club for the past 16 years had talks with Mourinho when the Portuguese manager arrived at the club.
During the negotiations between the two, Raul was offered the role of being a “dressing room leader”. Raul, who is a cult figure at the club, is very popular in the Real Madrid dressing room and is seen as the most senior player in the squad at the club.
With the likes of Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema, Higuain and Casillas at the club, Mourinho was looking to use Raul to gain control of the dressing room but it looks as if Raul who is currently 33 has other plans and is looking to move away from the club because he has not been guaranteed a permanent role in the squad as a frequent starter for his boy-hood club Real Madrid.
Mourinho has already said that he “respects” all the players at the club and the previous coaches as well. He stated that he will rebuild the team and that will mean that certain players will be “left out of the team”. He also remarked that “tactical and psychological” aspects of the game must be kept in balance otherwise the team cannot win any championships.
Raul, who is the all-time top goal scorer for Madrid in their history, played his first senior game for Real Madrid at the age of just 17 years. In doing so he became the youngest ever player to play for the Real Madrid senior side. Raul, who has played 550 games for Real Madrid, has scored 228 times during those matches. Raul along with Casillas in the year 2008, signed a lifelong contract with Real Madrid which means that they will be at the club till the end of their career. However the contract contains a clause which stipulates that the contract will be renewed each year as long as Raul and Casillas play 30 games each for Real Madrid every season.
Raul is also currently the highest active goal scorer in the Spanish league and is also the highest goal scorer in the UEFA Champions league with 66 goals in record 128 appearances. Mourinho spoke about Raul along with Florentino Perez on the 6th of June saying that the Real Madrid legend represented the ideals of the club like victory and never giving up. He also stated that the striker reminded him of Alfredo Di Stéfano, who is another legendary figure in the glorious history of Real Madrid. Perez said that Raul is an example for the club because he has given everything for the club. Jose also said that the Spanish striker deserves a happy ending to his career whatever that might be.
However, Raul had already told the press that he wanted to play rather than just be limited to a dressing room role. In latest news, Raul is now in talks with the German club Schalke where his ex-Real Madrid team mate Metzelder plays. Felix Magath, the manager of Schalke told the press that his club are interested in Raul and are currently negotiating with the Spanish striker’s agent. Magath went on to say that it will be a great signing if Raul decides to come to the German club. Raul has reportedly told the Schalke that he will need till the end of July to figure out his future.
The deal can only go through if Raul is released from his contract at Real Madrid as Schalke appear to have no funds available to pay a transfer fee. Magath also said that they are thankful to Metzelder for his friendship with Raul, as that link has enabled them to enter into transfer talks with the veteran striker.
If the transfer goes through, it will mean a painful exit for the lifelong supporter from the Madrid club. Nonetheless, Raul will always be remembered as a legend for his goals and contributions at Madrid regardless of what happens in the future.
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