Birth Date: June 27 1977
Birth Place: Madrid
Birth Nation: Spain
Height: 180cm
Weight: 68Kg
Nationality: Spanish
Position: Forward
Raul's football idol is Bernd Schuster
Full Name: Raul Gonzalez Blanco
He scored 16 goals last season. Raul has said that the only club he would leave Real Madrid for is Manchester United.
Raul Rumours and Transfers
23 10 2007
Fabio Cannavaro and Mahamadou Diarra will not be ready in time to play for Real Madrid against Olympiacos and have been left out of Bernd Schuster's squad.
Both players have been suffering from knee injuries and have not trained in the build-up to the Champions League encounter in Athens on Wednesday night.
While Diarra is still battling back from his problem, Cannavaro has been left out after being advised by doctor's that playing could see the injury worsen as he was hoping to risk playing.
Following the withdrawals, Sergio Ramos is set to move into the middle alongside Christoph Metzelder with Michel Salgado taking over on the right side of the back four.
According to reports, Fernando Gago is Schuster's preferred option to start in Diarra's place in midfield.
Madrid were already without Gabriel Heinze, Arjen Robben and Pepe, who all have muscle injuries.
Italy are dominating the Golden Ball list of 50 candidates with eight players, while Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona each contributed seven names on the list.
- Golden Ball 2007 nominees:
Éric Abidal (Olympique Lyon, FC Barcelona)
Daniel Alves (FC Sevilla)
David Beckham (Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy)
Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham)
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus Turin)
Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid)
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
Petr Cech (Chelsea)
Rogerio Ceni (Sao Paulo)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Deco (FC Barcelona)
Mahamadou Diarra (Real Madrid)
Diego (Werder Bremen)
Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
Michael Essien (Chelsea)
Samuel Eto'o (FC Barcelona)
Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
Gennaro Gattuso (Milan)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
Thierry Henry (Arsenal, FC Barcelona)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter)
Filippo Inzaghi (Milan)
Kaka (Milan)
Frederic Kanoute (FC Sevilla)
Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen, Bayern Munchen)
Younis Mahmoud (Algharafa)
Paolo Maldini (Milan)
Florent Malouda (Olympique Lyon, Chelsea)
Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic Glasgow)
Guillermo Ochoa (America Mexico)
Andrea Pirlo (Milan),
Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto),
Raul (Real Madrid)
Franck Ribery (Olympique Marseille, Bayern Munchen),
Juan Roman Riquelme (Boca Juniors, Villarreal)
Robinho (Real Madrid)
Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Paul Scholes (Manchester United)
Clarence Seedorf (Milan)
Carlos Tevez (West Ham, Manchester United)
Luca Toni (Fiorentina, Bayern Munchen)
Kolo Toure (Arsenal)
Jose Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid, Liverpool)
Francesco Totti (AS Roma)
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid)
Robin van Persie (Arsenal)
David Villa (Valencia)
15 10 2007
Roberto Soldado has still yet to play a competitive game for Real Madrid this season, despite coach Bernd Schuster's promises that he would be involved in the first team squad.
The 22 year old forward, though, has tried to remain upbeat and, in a recent interview with Marca, declared that Madrid's results remain his top priority.
"It's hard when you're not even entering into the squad list, but you need to keep trying, to be strong, and to respect your colleagues," he began.
"Should I triumph here, then my suffering will be worth it."
Recently, Soldado's agent remarked that, should the situation at the Bernabeu remain as-is, then his client would look to move on, perhaps in January.
For now, though, he remains committed to the Blancos.
"My dream has always been to succeed at Real Madrid and I will try with all my strength to do so," he said.
"It took many twists and turns to convince the club not to sell me [in summer]. I won't leave as long as I have an opportunity to succeed."
Last season, he managed 11 strikes in La Liga while on loan at Osasuna. Pre-season, things looked good for Soldado, who was given the number 9 jersey for a series of non-competitive matches.
Since then, though, the good form of Raul and Ruud van Nistelrooy has kept him out of the starting XI, while Schuster seems to prefer Julio Baptista and Javier Saviola as substitutes.
14 10 2007
Bernd Schuster's assistant, Manolo Ruiz, believes that the first international break of the season was to blame for the Real Madrid's inability to maintain their entertaining start and took a sly dig at Fabio Capello.
Los Merengues are top of the table, but have been battling to garner results following two exciting encounters with Atletico and Villarreal opened the campaign.
"Those games were very electric, but they were followed by international games, which destabilised us," Ruiz explained. "We are calm because we know the team can make considerable improvements."
Ruiz was then asked in the interview with AS, whether it had been difficult to change the team ethic from Capello's system and he could not resist taking a gentle swipe at the Italian.
"It was hard at first, but in the end every player likes to enjoy playing football," he said.
The Madrid number two defended the squad rotation system in place and stated that the plan will not be scrapped even if it is not proving to be popular with the fans.
"Everyone's talking about that, but the changes have been necessary due to the injuries several players have sustained," he continued.
"Nevertheless, our intention is not to exhaust our players. It would be a mistake not to give them any rest in 70 games. We won't change this scheme, even if it means paying a high price with public opinion."
Ruiz then reflected on several of the Madrid players that have been in the news this term, with Wesley Sneijder's rollercoaster start at the club first up.
"He came from an important club and he is a Dutch international," he stated. "But there is no need for him to carry the weight of the team on his shoulders! Other players already have that responsibility."
On Robinho, the coach revealed that he has told the Brazilian to go for goal when he has the chance: "He moves and looks to pass the ball more often... I've told him he must be a bit more selfish inside the box.
Marcelo's improvement has been rapid and Ruiz admitted he was pleased: "He has matured and made great progress on a tactical level. He knows how to defend better."
Finally, Ruiz revealed how impressed he and Schuster have been with the partnership between Raul and Ruud Van Nistelrooy up front.
"We are very happy with our strikers," he said. "Some teams have very individual strikers that only look to score for their own personal glory, but Raul and Ruud play very well together. One of them breaks through the defence while the other looks for space in which to score."
09 10 2007
Jon Dahl Tomasson has accused Luis Aragones of only calling up his favourite players, rather than choose those that are in the best form for Spain.
The Villarreal striker stoked the tension as Denmark prepare to meet la Seleccion in a crunch Euro 2008 qualifier on Saturday in Aarhus.
After seeing David Villa forced to withdraw from the squad, Tomasson was surprised that Real Madrid veteran Raul was overlooked in favour of Raul Tamudo.
"Raul has not played for the national team for over a year and I do not know what the problem is," the Dane said.
"Aragones seems to be a bit of a special character that only calls up his favourite players."
Tomasson was honest in his apraisal of the two squads, but believes that Denmark know how to unsettle their opponents as they showed in the early part of the first meeting between the teams in Group F.
"They have better players than us and for that reason we usually lose against them," he explained.
"But we have to remember that they would be happy with a draw and that they have had problems away from home. The Spanish players do not like it if opponents run behind them and that is why it is important that we play our own game, like we did for the first 25 minute in the Bernabeu."
05 10 2007
Luis Aragones has again omitted Raul from his Spain squad as the Real Madrid captain was left out for the crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Denmark next week.
Despite his impressive form for Los Merengues, Raul has failed to win his place back with la Seleccion and the national team coach remains loyal to his favoured forwards.
Spain take on Denmark in the crunch Group F encounter on October 13, where a victory for the visitors to Aarhus would push them to the cusp of qualification for the European Championships in Austria and Switzerland next summer.
Carles Puyol is back in the squad, having missed last month's matches through injury, while Valencia's Raul Albiol and Espanyol's Albert Riera are the surprise inclusions.
"Our qualification for EURO 2008 is at stake," Aragones said. "I know Riera from my time at Mallorca and he's technically a great player."
After playing Denmark at the weekend, Spain then travel to Helsinki to take on Finland, who are well placed in Group A, in a friendly.
Defenders: Pablo Ibanez (Atletico de Madrid), Mariano Pernia (Atletico de Madrid), Carles Puyol (FC Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Raul Albiol (Valencia).
Midfielders: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Andres Iniesta (FC Barcelona), David Silva (Valencia), Xavi Hernandez (FC Barcelona), David Albelda (Valencia), Miguel Angel Angulo (Valencia), Joaquin (Valencia), Albert Riera (Espanyol).
Forwards: David Villa (Valencia), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Luis Garcia (Espanyol).
05 10 2007
Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari made six changes to the Portugal squad Friday ahead of two must-win European championship qualifying games.
Scolari, who will be absent from the bench for both games because of a UEFA ban, recalled Ricardo Carvalho of Chelsea and Sporting's Tonel to bolster a defense that conceded late goals in consecutive home draws against Poland and Serbia.
The Brazilian coach dropped Juventus' Tiago Mendes and Armando Petit of Benfica to make way for midfielders Duda of Sevilla and Sporting's Miguel Velosa ahead of games at Azerbaijan on Sept. 13 and Kazakhstan on Sept. 17. Midfielder Raul Mereiles of FC Porto and Stuttgart defender Fernando Meira were also added.
Scolari earned a reduced two-month ban on Thursday for scuffling with defender Ivica Dragutinovic at the end of Portugal's 1-1 draw with Serbia on Sept. 12. Scolari is barred from the bench until Nov. 20, meaning he can return for the team's last Euro 2008 qualifier against Finland on Nov. 21, which he would have missed under an original four-match ban.
Poland leads Group A with 21 points, two ahead of Finland. Portugal is third with 17 points but has played one less game than the top two. Serbia is fourth with 16 points.
Portugal beat both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan 3-0 in the home leg.
Defenders: Miguel Monteiro (Valencia), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Jose Bosingwa (FC Porto), Fernando Meira (Stuttgart), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Tonel (Sporting)
Forwards: Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Nuno Gomes (Benfica)
05 10 2007
Real Madrid are preparing to offer Ruud Van Nistelrooy an extension to his contract as a reward for his goalscoring exploits on the pitch and his professionalism off it.
The Dutch striker moved to the Bernabeu in 2006 from Manchester United and penned a two-year deal with the option for a third.
After being a key player in Madrid's title win last term and impressing with a tally of 33 goals, Van Nistelrooy has impressed the board at the club.
Los Merengues' technical director Predrag Mijatovic has also been delighted with the striker's willingness to help the three new Dutch arrivals settle in.
Van Nistelrooy has been looking after Wesley Sneijder, Royston Drenthe and Arjen Robben and that has gone down very well with Mijatovic.
"Ruud is an exemplary sportsman, just like Raul" a Real Madrid spokesman said. "He is a lad that trains like he plays, who has never given us any problems and is helping the new players to settle in. He was crucial to the club winning the league last season and has been very effective again this year. This offer of renewal is deserved."
Van Nistelrooy is 31 now and the new deal will see him tied to Madrid until he is 34, but there are few fears that he will lose his goalscoring prowess in the next three years.
Mijatovic is due to ask the player's agent, Rodger Linse, to begn negotiations over the contract extension in the next two weeks.
04 10 2007
Fabio Cannavaro praised Lazio for their performance, but admits 'lazy' Real Madrid have much to learn about team spirit and defending as a unit.
'Lazio played a great game and we didn't do too well, as we should not have left so much space and were lucky they didn't make the most of that,' he said after the 2-2 draw at the Olimpico.
'I have been playing in Spain for a year and there are differences. You defend less as a unit and more as individuals, so you get a lot of one-against-one or even two-against-one. This is their mentality and that is tough to change, even though we tried last season.'
Fabio Capello won the Liga title with Real, but was fired because his style of play was not considered to be entertaining enough.
Cannavaro was one of the few imports requested by Capello that remained at the club and he revealed the difficulties he has to deal with in Madrid.
'I always tell them to help out the defence, as the important thing in a team is balance and everyone fighting together,' he told Sky Italia television.
'I can't ask Ruud van Nistelrooy and Raul to work in defence, but I can tell them to adjust their position slightly during the difficult times when we are under pressure. When you are on the field with attacking midfielders like Wesley Sneijder, Guti and Arjen Robben, they get lazy and focus more on the attack rather than coming back to help out. We do discuss these things.'
Gabriel Heinze was used as Cannavaro's central defensive partner in that Champions League encounter.
'We have had injuries to Pepe and Metzelder, while we needed a bit more attacking flair down the right with Sergio Ramos, so Heinze was chosen to partner me in the centre. We have a large squad and the Coach likes to change regularly so everyone gets a rest.'
Real Madrid now share top spot in Group C with Olympiacos, who won 3-1 away to Werder Bremen, on four points. Lazio have two points, Werder are yet to get off the mark.
