Raul set for Schalke (Sky Sports)

CorkMan

Sky Sports wrote:

Real Madrid striker Raul has reportedly agreed a deal to switch to German side Schalke 04.

The 33-year-old former Spain international has been a stalwart for Madrid in recent years, although he has now fallen down the pecking order at the Bernabeu.

Raul is rumoured to have already signed a two-year contract with the Bundesliga side, although the deal until June 2011 will not be finalised until he returns from his holiday, according to the Spanish press.

He is thought to have received other offers from clubs in the USA and Qatar, but a move to Germany is his preferred option.

Raul is set to move for no fee, as new Real manager Jose Mourinho tries to build a new squad after taking the reins in the Spanish capital last month.

Raul's salary is reportedly €4million (£3.3m) per annum at Schalke and he has the chance to play in the UEFA Champions League next season after they finished second in the Bundesliga last term.

The experienced striker has been a professional with Real for 16 years and is regarded as a legend among the club's fans.

However, despite the speculation, Schalke manager Felix Magath insists a deal has not been agreed yet.

"We are interested in him and are negotiating with his agent," Magath told Bild newspaper.

"The player has not decided yet and wants time until the end of July to make up his mind.

"It would be a huge signing for Schalke and the whole Bundesliga."

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11835_6244570,00.html

Big signing for Schalke. I expected him to move to the EPL, though I suppose he would expect to earn at least 100K a week there.

Jigga

Fair play to Mourinho for shipping him out. His best days are long behind him and he has too much influence there.

applehunter

I'd question whether this deserves its own thread as it is unsubstantiated.

eagle eye

Jigga wrote: »

Fair play to Mourinho for shipping him out. His best days are long behind him and he has too much influence there.

Mourinho did not ship him out, he decided to leave. He has a special contract with Real Madrid that he could have chosen to take up if he wished to. He has to make 30 appearances for Real per year and he had 37 appearances this past season.

CorkMan

eagle eye wrote: »

Mourinho did not ship him out, he decided to leave. He has a special contract with Real Madrid that he could have chosen to take up if he wished to. He has to make 30 appearances for Real per year and he had 37 appearances this past season.

Yes, a "lifetime contract". If he plays 30 games+ a seasons he'd play there for God knows how long, the contract had no stated years for how long it was, just lifetime.

CSF

Huge for Schalke, in commercial terms at least.

gibson

Did Podolski go back to Schalke? Raul and Podolski nice!

krustydoyle

Was it not Cologne they signed him from a few years back??

gibson

krustydoyle wrote: »

Was it not Cologne they signed him from a few years back??

quite possibly! im probably wrong!

DazMarz

Podolski plays for FC Koln, yeah.

Good signing for Schalke, if it's true...

Warper

Good signing for the publicity though he is well past his best.

tolosenc

Oh FFS. Just got my Raul jersey...

Thanx 4 The Fish

That puts Big Sam's massive coup on the shelf for the moment then. Looked like Blackburn were heading the chase. Still reckon he could do a job in a couple of years time, he is definitely good enough, depends on injuries etc but Sam could yet get his man.

Pinturicchio

I wonder where Guti will go. It looks like he'll be leaving Real too.

flahavaj

I reckon Jose is absolutely delighted not to have him in the background next season.

realmadrid

Raul is a legend! Be very suprised to see him leave

eagle eye

Thanx 4 The Fish wrote: »

That puts Big Sam's massive coup on the shelf for the moment then. Looked like Blackburn were heading the chase. Still reckon he could do a job in a couple of years time, he is definitely good enough, depends on injuries etc but Sam could yet get his man.

Big Sam has never said he was interested in Raul, he has said he is interested in Guti though.