Report: Real Madrid's Raul May Retire In The Summer

The Bernabeu legend does not want to become a bench warmer.

Raul Gonzalez - Real Madrid (PA)
Raul Gonzalez is mooting the idea of retiring from football and moving upstairs at Real Madrid rather than become a regular substitute with a team that he was once guaranteed a place in.

El Mundo Deportivo report that Los Merengues' captain does not want to move abroad to look for regular football and would prefer to bow out at the top.

Already this season he has been on the bench for four league games and two in Europe and that has given him a clear message that there are now players above him in the pecking order.

After a meeting with president Florentino Perez, it was made clear that Iker Casillas is in line to become the captain of the club, which has further dented Raul's desire to dream of many more season at the top.

The Spanish giants' all-time record goalscorer will be 33 at the end of the current campaign and knows that should he decide to quit, then a job within the club is his.

Perez is not persuading Raul to hang up his boots but it was no secret that in his last reign he would have off-loaded the skipper before seeing his form revitalized.

This time around, coach Manuel Pellegrini does not need to include Raul as often given the wealth of talent he has in each area and that appears to be the key in persuading El Siete to consider his future.

Lucas Brown, Goal.com

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