Calcio Debate: Raul And Alessandro Del Piero - Birds Of The Same Feather?

He was supposed to play for their city-rivals but ended up playing for them. He has won everything there is to be won in club football - La Liga six times, the Champions League thrice in the space of six years and the Intercontinental Cup - and is the club's all-time leading goalscorer. He has not featured for the national side for almost three years and possibly never will but is still his nation’s leading scorer.

Meet Raul Gonzalez Blanco, the King of Spain.

He was always the darling of his nation and was destined to be a great player. He started at a modest side in his country's second division but after two years was signed by his nation’s most successful club and now heads their all time scoring and appearance records. He has won everything there is to be won in club football and has won almost everything there is to be won in international football.

Meet Alessandro Del Piero, Pinturicchio.

The last time Raul and Del Piero confronted each other was during the group stages of the Champions League last season and on that occasion the latter made the headlines. The duo face each other again on Friday in the semi-finals of the Peace Cup and although this match is not going to be as competitive as a European Cup clash, it would still be interesting to see how the two legends of the game fare.

Legends they might well be but there is no doubt that both are in the twilight of their career. While Raul at 32 is no more the striker he once was and his spirit, hard work and often opportunistic goals for Real Madrid cannot eclipse his degeneration, Del Piero's sheer class and perhaps Juventus’ lack of alternatives have seen him retain his place in the starting XI at 34. Next season, though, both could find their playing time restricted by more dynamic and younger players.

The Raul Situation

How Long Can Raul Survive?

Real Madrid have made some scintillating signings this summer with president Florentino Perez constructing a new-Galactico era. Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema are the attacking players who have arrived so far and with some world class attackers already present at the Bernabeu, it is hard to see Raul play week in week out.

Last season's 24 goals in all competitions might imply that Raul can still 'do it' but the cruel truth is that Raul cannot carry the team on his shoulders anymore. Yes, he works hard and remains as committed as ever, but with Gonzalo Higuain's astounding development in the last two years and Benzema's potency it is hard to see ‘Madrid’s Angel’ feature regularly for the Blancos. Plus, there are Ruud van Nistelrooy and Alvaro Negredo on the roster.

Manuel Pellegrini's supposed 4-4-2 formation has no place for Raul upfront; Higuain and Benzema should be the front two. Even in a 4-3-3 scheme Raul would not fit.

The Del Piero Situation

Over to Turin in Italy and things are quite similar with Alessandro Del Piero. That Del Piero still manages to garner over 30 starts a season is a testimony to his talent and hunger for the game but it is almost imperative that Ciro Ferrara looks beyond the aura of the Pinturicchio at Juventus.

At 34 Del Piero is past his prime and although he did top-score in the Serie A in 2007-2008 and destroyed Madrid last season, relying on the Italian to retrieve the scudetto and the Champions League would be a mistake.

Like Madrid, Juventus have made some brilliant signings. Diego's arrival has given Ferrara a perfect trequartista who is on top of his game and in a World Cup year would be raring to give his all. Fellow summer recruit and compatriot Felipe Melo would provide steel and dynamism in midfield.

Unlike Raul, though, Del Piero should start matches, at least in the initial stages. His versatility to play as a support-striker or as a trequartista with effectiveness and reliance gives him an edge and he would retain his place and play alongside Amauri or Vincenzo Iaquinta upfront with Diego pulling the strings from the 'hole'. Del Piero has arguably more class and better technique than Spain's Raul and can score as well as create goals.

Yet there is no doubt that as the season progresses the World Cup winner would have to start more matches on the bench. His heir-apparent Giovinco is supposed to make 2009-2010 his breakthrough season and this is likely to come at the expense of Del Piero.

Moreover, there is considerable doubt on whether Giovinco, Del Piero and Diego all can fit in the same starting XI and prudence suggests giving preference to the two younger players.

It might be hard for the generation of fans who grew up watching Raul and Del Piero to accept that both of them are on the way out of football. Although both Raul and Del Piero have two or three years of top flight football left in them, it is time for them to step aside and give the younger generation a chance.

Subhankar Mondal, Goal.com

Get the latest from the world of Transfers by following Transfer LIVE! Join the chat and see all the news on a minute-by-minute basis here.