‘We will see’: Raul refuses to deny claims he wants to be Real Madrid manager ‘in the future’ but insists all he can do is ‘keep working’
- Real Madrid legend Raul has refused to rule out claims that he wants to manage
- The iconic former striker took over as coach of the famed Castilla youth side
- Jorge Valdano, who gave Raul his debut, feels the Spaniard is Madrid’s future
- Valdano feels Raul would have the effect Pep Guardiola had on Barcelona
Real Madrid legend Raul has refused to rule out claims that he one day wants to sit at the helm at the Bernabeu and manage his former club.
The iconic former striker, who took over as head coach of Madrid’s famed Castilla reserve side at the start of the season, has been posting impressive results.
An undefeated run, which was only recently broken by a loss to Racing Ferrol, led Raul’s former Madrid manager Jorge Valdano to hail him as the future of the club – in the mould of Pep Guardiola at Barcelona or Diego Simeone at Atletico.
Real Madrid legend Raul refused to rule out claims that he wants to manage his former club
Valdano, who played for Madrid between 1984 and 1987, before later going on to manage the club and handing Raul his debut, penned a column in El Pais.
In it, he outlined how Raul is the ‘future’ of the club, as well as a decorated part of its past. His opinion quickly went viral in the Spanish capital, and now Raul himself has had his say.
‘My relationship with Jorge has always been special as next week, it will be 25 years since I debuted with Madrid,’ Raul told Spanish daily publication Diario AS.
Former Madrid player and manager Jorge Valdano has hailed Raul as the future of the side
Valdano handed Raul his debut, which started off one of the club’s most decorated careers
‘It’s a column based on personal opinion and I am trying to earn praise in order to have this possibility in the future.’
‘I have always said that I arrived here as a manager a year and a half ago, I did my courses and I am here, the only thing I can do is keep working,’ he added.
‘I am happy to be home, in my club and in the future we will see. Now, I am focused on Castilla, in learning by the day and in instilling Real Madrid’s values on the players.’
Raul’s potential path from the Castilla ranks to the senior side would mirror that of current manager Zinedine Zidane.
Raul is seen as Madrid’s eternal captain and is still idolised by supporters today
Zidane, who oversaw a recent period of European domination with Madrid, played alongside Raul during their time at the Bernabeu.
Despite his esteemed status, Zidane currently finds himself in hot water after making a poor start to this season’s Champions League campaign.
In domestic duties, Madrid currently sit one point behind rivals Barcelona at the top of the table.
