GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP) -Spanish veteran striker Raul Gonzalez will leave Bundesliga club Schalke at the end of the season and move outside Europe when his two-year contract expires.
Raul, who turns 35 in June, said Thursday he had two offers from outside Europe but did not specify.
"My playing future is not in Europe,'' Raul said, adding that the league he picks will not be as strong as European leagues.
Schalke had made the former Real Madrid and Spain captain an offer to stay but the club said that he has decided to leave.
"They were two wonderful years that I will always bear in my heart. I was able to do what I like doing the best: playing, playing, playing,'' Raul said. "I also have to give the fans a special thanks for their affection and respect.''
Schalke managing director Horst Heldt said Raul would get a farewell match in 2013, likely against a Spanish club, and that Schalke would retire his No. 7 jersey for the time being.
Schalke chairman Clemens Toennies said Raul had given Schalke a "piece of glamor'' and praised his commitment.
"Adios and don't forget us,'' Toennies said.
Raul established himself as a fan favorite after joining Schalke last season. He has scored 27 goals in 63 Bundesliga appearances.
He won the German Cup and reached the semifinals of the Champions League in his first season with Schalke.
The club is third in the top division with three games left to play and on course for a Champions League place next season.


Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/soccer/wires/04/19/2080.ap.soc.schalke.raul.1st.ld.writethru.0260/index.html#ixzz1sUhmClIl

I think he's being a fool.

Unless he's DC United-bound, that is :vagi:

I heard he's f*ckin off to some arab club.......

What a c*nt !!!!!

Spoiler:

A return to Madrid as a backup striker/coach assistant to learn the trade of the master. And then when Mou moves on Raúl and Zidane takes over as a coaching duo.

// Dreaming

RAUL TO NYRB!!!

Almost lead Schalke to a CL final what a goat

hrealmadrid wrote:RAUL TO NYRB!!!

As much as i would love that we don't need a striker, Henry is scoring goals, we need a Creative Mid

9mill a year to play in Qatar at his age is a smart financial move

raul can play ' in the hole ' though if thats what you want.. just like he is doing with schalke..

anyway, schalke decided to retire his number.. what a legend, wish la liga rules werent so stupid , and allowed teams to use numbers beyond '25 '

hes off to a less competitive league, not la liga ha as much as i would love him to come back.

they are also retiring the number 7 for him.. wtf we didnt even do that. f madrid

come back raul the masterclass.

im not still drunk by the way

He will become chief engineer to oversee the construction of our island.

Retiring his number after 2 seasons, and he's leaving for money aswell

What a farce

He is a football legend but he is'nt a Schalke legend, iam sorry but you dont retire someones number after two seasons, organise a testamonial......

Especially when he turns his back on you for a pay day

Seriously this is like Inter retiring Eto'o's number and giving him a testomonial

I hope iam not the only one who see's big a farce this is

vanDEEZ wrote:hes off to a less competitive league, not la liga ha as much as i would love him to come back.

they are also retiring the number 7 for him.. wtf we didnt even do that. f madrid

come back raul the masterclass.

im not still drunk by the way

we cant retire any number i think .. cant choose a number beyond 25 if i am not wrong

If Real Madrid retried numbers there would be none left for current players.

Anyway Schalke are class and I'm glad their fans got to enjoy what we enjoyed when Raul was playing with us.

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:Retiring his number after 2 seasons, and he's leaving for money aswell

What a farce

He is a football legend but he is'nt a Schalke legend, iam sorry but you dont retire someones number after two seasons, organise a testamonial......

Especially when he turns his back on you for a pay day

Seriously this is like Inter retiring Eto'o's number and giving him a testomonial

I hope iam not the only one who see's big a farce this is

they said they would do it "for the time being", i.e. for just a couple of years.

Raul to Roarcelona

Raul does not have long left playing football, he would be an idiot to reject such a big pay day imo, for long term financial security for him and his mini soccer team that he has.

Lord Hades wrote:raul can play ' in the hole ' though if thats what you want.. just like he is doing with schalke..

Henry is already playing in the hole for NYRB

well henry can push forward and play as the number nine now ,cant he ?

Lord Hades wrote:well henry can push forward and play as the number nine now ,cant he ?

but still.... Scoring isn't the Problem at NY it's conceding...There were rumors of Ballack coming

It is a real pity that he'll be leaving Schalke as he could have had one more season in the CL with them. Although in a way it is understandable if he really wants to spend more time with his family. But that doesn't mean I'm mot saddened he leaves.

Crimson wrote:Raul does not have long left playing football, he would be an idiot to reject such a big pay day imo, for long term financial security for him and his mini soccer team that he has.

How much children he has?

Doc wrote:

Crimson wrote:Raul does not have long left playing football, he would be an idiot to reject such a big pay day imo, for long term financial security for him and his mini soccer team that he has.

How much children he has?

5 so far XD

Of which two are twins

I agree with that Crimson, just find the whole retiring number( even if it is for a limited time) and giving him a testimonial after only playing them for 2 years a bit of a farce tbh.