Real Madrid captain Raul linked with Liverpool

MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid captain Raul Gonzalez could move to English Premiership side Liverpool in the summer.

Spanish sports daily As Saturday speculated on its front page that the long-standing friendship between Raul and Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez, who was a Real youth coach during Raul's formative teenage years, could be the catalyst for the player to leave Real.

Raul could be another high-profile departure from the Spanish capital as Real coach Fabio Capello continues to wield a very large broom, clearing out the Spanish giants' aging but under-performing superstars.

Former England captain David Beckham announced on Thursday that he was joining Major League Soccer club

Los Angeles Galaxy and Brazil's three-time World Player of the Year Ronaldo is expected to leave soon as well.

Raul's agent Gines Carvajal said on Spanish radio on Friday night, that if Madrid were to allow other clubs to negotiate with Raul, "he would be able to play without any problems in England."

The 29 year-old Spanish international striker, who has appeared at three World Cups, has a contract at Real until 2010 and any club wanting to buy him in the summer would have to put at least 18 million euros on the table.

They would also have to match Raul's current wages, which are believed to be six million euros a year.

However Raul was a regular visitor to Anfield during the last two seasons when his friend Fernando Morientes was a player there, and has had regular contact with Benitez.

Real Madrid-Zaragoza

• Keepers: Iker Casillas, Diego López.

• Defenders: Helguera, Cannavaro, Pavón, Mejía, Raúl Bravo, Miguel Torres.

• Midfielders: Diarra, Gago, Reyes, Robinho, Nieto, De la Red, Emerson.

• Strikers: Raúl, Higuaín, Van Nistelrooy.

Raul to Realmadrid.com

"There's a great group of people and footballers; we will make it through"

The Captain of Real Madrid reviewed exclusively for Realmadrid.com and RealmadridTV the state of the team and the current events of the Whites after the last two La Liga defeats. He's convinced that the squad can make it through and be a contender to all three titles in play, clarifying, “Both the squad and the coaching staff are fully capable.” Regarding his situation, the number '7' said, “I will continue to work as I have always done, hopeful to finish my career here.”

The team changed against Betis after the last two defeats.

We finished the year and began the new year with two upsets and with an image that was not in line with the standards of Real Madrid. The image of the team was quite different against Betis. The team was more ordered and disciplined. We even had our chances of scoring. The result was not bad, but the return leg will prove tough. Let's hope we're able to settle the score at home.

You were not as great before playing against Espanyol and you are not that bad now. There must be a balance.

Balance is key and we should always aim to have it. When you play for such an important institution and you lose two times in a row, with two deserved defeats and playing pretty badly, it is quite expected to start hearing all sorts of comments, even exaggerations, around you. We're in a good position. The other teams at the top of the table have also dropped points. We're just five points behind, so our options remain intact. The entire second half of the League is around the corner, so we're well placed to meet the objectives of the great Club that Real Madrid is.

Do you see the two upsets against Recreativo Huelva and Deportivo Coruña differently after some time?

They hurt us and especially our fans a lot. After our effort in Montjuic against Espanyol, where we won one man down, our self-confidence was soaring. We don't even know what happended just three days later, against Recreativo. We looked like a team that was completely out of tune; we had no chances and we were at home! This makes you think things through. We need to improve our overall and individual performance and put in more effort. It would be an exaggeration to say that we are in a sensitive situation. This is just one more of the many that co-exist throughout an entire campaign. The squad and the coaching staff are capable of seeing this through and making the fans proud of their team.

One thing you have always had is capacity of self-criticism. That's always a good thing.

You are right. We're the first to know that we're lost if we keep on heading down this track. But there was quite an improvement against Betis. Let's hope we can see good football this year at the Bernabéu. This woul make everyone happy and would enatil good results. Our fans are dying to see it; they are behind us 100%.

Why do you think it's such an ordeal to win at home this year?

We feel the weight of the responsibility to do things well. Performance is negatively affected sometimes when the responsibility is too burdensome. Everyone is so intent on offering top quality football that the performance of the team suffers. The games start and our opponents notice that they can put us between a rock and a hard place. Also playing against us is the fact that we have had several games where we had to turn the scoreboard around. We need to begin dominating from minute one, like Real Madrid have done so many times before... creating an atmosphere where all elements are in unison. This way, we will have our opponents living and playing in fear.

Does Capello's experience give you an edge, an advantage, especially in this sort of situation?

He has a lot of experience. He has lived through complicated situations and he's a natural-born winner. He will end up rubbing that character off onto the team and we wll respond because we all have the willingness to work hard and the motivation to improve. I am sure we will start seeing this in the upcoming encounters.

How is the Zaragoza match-up looking? One more in the fixture calendar or is it special?

It's important because we cannot drop any more points at the Bernabéu. Both the fans and us, the players, are expecting a great game. We want to make people proud of their team. After the last defeats, it seems like there's more relevance in the press and in the media than from a sporting perspective. We are ready to face a great team, which is what Zaragoza are.

How about you personally?

I feel great. Happy and pleased. Save these last few games, the team is doing well. We have been saying that we need to improve... especially so after these two losses. But I remain calm. I have the trust and confidence of the club and of the coach. I will continue to work as I have always done, hopeful to finish my career here. Losing always causes rumours-spreading, but I am only focused on Real Madrid.

How is the squad reacting to Beckham's departure?

It is always sad when a player leaves. David has been a great team-mate and a top professional throughout his time here. He's always given his best. We are going to try to enjoy these six months he still has left on his contract. It's his decision. I am sure he's decided what's best for him and for his family. But, I repeat, we have half a season to enjoy his goals. I hope he can leave with a trophy in his pocket.

What can you tell the fans at this moment?

That we need their help and support. We need full unity. The most important thing is the fans. I am sure they will be behind the team this Sunday. We will respond in kind: giving our all to ensure that they win and feel the pride that they deserve and that we owe them.

REPORT:

Real Madrid: Casillas; Torres, Cannavaro, Helguera, Raul Bravo; Diarra, Gago, Reyes (De la Red, min.70), Raul (Robinho, m.15); Higuaín and Van Nistelrooy.

Zaragoza: Cesar; Piqué, G. Milito, Juanfran; Sergio , Zapater, Celades (Movilla, min.55), Aimar, D’Alessandro (Óscar, min. ); Ewerthon (Sergio García, min.55) and Diego Milito.

Referee: Miguel Ángel Ayza Gámez. Booked Gago (min.25), Piqué (min.30), Milito (min.33), Diarra (min.47), Sergio (min.50), De la Red (min. 73), Aimar (min. 80), Zapater (min.90).

Goals:

1-0: Van Nistelrooy, after a service by Higuaín.

Raul got injured today during the game and had to come off at 15 mins.

does anyone know what happened they didn't show the game on tv today?

It's his right muscle, they said on Real Madrid TV that it is not serious. He will be @ training this morning and they will know more then! But it does not look bad. I pray that is true because he played well in the 15 mins....

Thank God it wasn't his left knee!

Praying for good news....GREAT GAME, I AM A NEW FAN OF GONZALO HIGUAIN!!!!

Thanks for the info! Glad it isn't such a bad injury.

Loved Higuain in the game!

This is what he has been diagnoised with, we just have to wait for the extent of damage he has and the time he needs to recover.

Fiber breakage.

Acute pain produced by an abrupt contraction and does violence to of muscles. Usually one occurs in the ends of physical efforts. It can appear in a gradation that goes from the breakage to fibrilar to the complete rupture of the muscle.

He'll need mediacal treatment and physotheraphy. The damage depends on the radiology tests.

Thanks Ange & Chic_Raul_ista

Real Madrid Captain Raul Gonzalez Out For 3 Weeks With Calf Injury - Sets Sights On Return For Bayern Munich Clash

Fabio Capello’s Real Madrid undergoing transition with the big names tumbling out to herald the end of Galacticos recruitment policy, suffered a jolt on Monday, when it was revealed that their captain Raul Gonzalez will be out for three weeks following a right calf injury.

Real’s Spain international striker is however hoping to be fit in time for their Champions League first round knock-out clash with FC Bayern M

Np LuNo! This sucks. Out for 2 weeks? I hope he comes back for the CL clash. btw Thanks for the info LuNo!

Raul will be back in 20 days with the club.

He will miss about 4-5 matches. His only regime from now to when he returns in physotherapy and medical treatment.

He surprised us by returning early from his serious knee injury, so I am sure he will be back ASAP. His a workaholic so don't worry about his desire to return to the team.

The players had dinner together today in Madrid, they6 decided to go out together and have lunch!

http://www.cadenaser.com/articulo/deportes...srcsrdep_4/Tes/

Hope we get to see pics of Raul!

Old pic, hope we can see Raul @ the Bernabeu watching the games and at the Viste Alegre watching RM Basketball team as well! (BTW, LuNO let me know if this pic is already posted)

Raul & Mamen on their wedding day :wub2:

SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!