La Liga - Raul to leave Real in two years

Eurosport - Wed, 25 Feb 13:54:00 2009

Real Madrid striker Raul will probably retire at the end of the 2010-11 season although he may consider playing in the United States for a year after that.

FOOTBALL 2008-09 La Liga - Real Madrid legend Raul - 0

"It's difficult because you always want to go when you are playing at the highest level," the former Spain international and club captain told Wednesday's Marca newspaper.

"At the moment, I have pencilled in 2011," he added. "Six months before that, in December or January, it will be the moment to analyse the situation and see if it's of benefit for the club and for me to carry on."

Raul, who will be 32 in June, recently broke Alfredo di Stefano's Real club scoring record of 307 goals and is also the leading scorer in the Champions League with 64 goals.

He told Marca he would consider moving with his family to America and playing there once his career at Real ended.

"As an experience, not just for me but also for my family, I could try to play a year probably in the United States," he said. "If I did it, it would be for the experience. If not, it's clear that I will finish my career here (at Real)."

One day becoming a coach was also an option, he added.

"Yes, sure, it could be one of the possibilities. But my future will in any case be linked 90 percent to football and to Real Madrid."

Raul is likely to be in the starting line-up for Wednesday's Champions League match against Liverpool at the Bernabeu and is within two goals of Gerd Mueller's record of 66 in the three main European club competitions.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 14 of 14

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  1. I strongly suggest a H ot place
    _____ K issMilliona­ ires com_____ , Find rich true love here.

    From usacheerleader5923, on Thu 26 Feb 1:01AM

  2. raul is a legend and i respect him a lot not only for­ his pure talent but also his attidute and character.­ and i am a barcelona fan..

    From Varnavas P, on Wed 25 Feb 9:00PM

  3. If there can be a phrase top 10 club footballers of the­ world than Raul is one of them, ANY PERSON WHO CAN NOT­ RECOGNISE THAT RAUL HAS NOT BEEN GREAT IS JUST A HATER­ HOW DOES NOT UNDERSTAND NOTHING IN FOOTBALL !
    REAL IS­ GONNA COOK LIVERPOOL IN HALF AN HOUR, THE DISH WILL BE­ SERVED IN 2.5 HOURS, YOU ARE ALL WELCOME TO TAKE A BITE­ AT FC LOOSERPOOL :)))))))))))))))))))))))))))

    From Artak V, on Wed 25 Feb 7:26PM

  4. Raul has been AND is still being an excellent servant­ to the game of football. Even at the age of 31, he­ still shows great skill and willingness that some of­ the current crop of cocky young footballers can only­ ever dream of achieving. Whatever path he chooses to­ follow post-Madrid, as a Manchester United fan, he will­ always get my support.

    From Nathaniel, on Wed 25 Feb 6:20PM

  5. no 3 and 7. very precise.

    From ay.david, on Wed 25 Feb 4:30PM

  6. No 3 is right this man is one of those heart on your­ sleeve finishers ala Totti, Fowler, Le tissier and Del­ pierro

    From Hobitez, on Wed 25 Feb 3:40PM

  7. Raul is the king of football take it or leave it, real­ madrid is the paradise club football and whoever wants­ to die becos of that can go ahead.
    Despite the fact­ that real have not won any euro cup in 4 years,it has­ not reduced the clubs respect....
    Eto and most of those­ players that parade themselves as best players, are­ products of real madrid.....who said real madrid is not­ a club....who said that
    all hail KING REAL­ MADRDID....ALL HAIL

    Any real madrid fan in nigeria can­ reach me on 2348068716063

    From adam_smithly, on Wed 25 Feb 3:28PM

  8. barcelona_the_best1 did you see his last two goals­ against betis? i am not saying the other goals he has­ scored this season

    From Erekle, on Wed 25 Feb 2:52PM

  9. im not surprised by the parochial view expressed by the­ so called barca fan.his club has not beaten our record­ and they will neva beat it in la liga and in europe.he­ might av a heart attack bcos of our record.even messi­ which is ur player now cant make such a tactless,­ senseless, unreasonable,frivolous and denigrating­ statement about raul who is a renowned football­ icon.barca shud first perform to the level that they­ will join the first generation of clubs in europe b4­ they can have standing to talk to us.Real Madrid, AC­ milan, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Ajax are the first­ generation clubs in Europe.i care less if anybody whose­ club does not fall within the realm decides to slump.

    From ademolashi2, on Wed 25 Feb 2:45PM

  10. Typical narrow-minded fan in barcelona_the_best1.­ Luckily, not all Barca fans are as fickle as you.

    Just­ to show much your comment epicly fails. Raul scored 18­ goals last year and 13 so far this year. Yes, he did­ have a few lean spells between 2004 and 06 - but he is­ like a fine wine, maturing with his age.

    From philliec, on Wed 25 Feb 2:13PM

  11. Raul suxks, he was good 50 years ago, when he was­ young, but now he is old and slow, and luckly scores a­ few goals.

    From barcelona_the_best1, on Wed 25 Feb 1:00PM

  12. raul, giggs, totti, maldini, great players.

    From chechenr, on Wed 25 Feb 12:51PM

  13. Raul is one of my favourite players outside of Britain,­ he may have lost some of his pace and footwork but his­ finishing and movement is still class. Have a look at­ some highlights from the 2003 ECL, and you will see why­ Real were champions that year

    From XS, on Wed 25 Feb 12:07PM

  14. Much like Ryan Giggs of Man Utd, I think Raul is a­ legend in his own right in Spain. In an era where­ players switch clubs like a club changes their kit, it­ is refreshing to see some players staying loyal to­ their clubs.

    From philliec, on Wed 25 Feb 12:00PM
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