Fenerbahce Striker Guiza Backs Raul To Replace Him For Spain

Mar 19, 2009 1:07:05 AM

The out-of-sorts Spanish striker has admitted that he is well below par this season and would be happy if Raul were to take over his place in La Seleccion.

Fenerbahce’s Dani Guiza has thrown his support behind Raul to have the Real Madrid icon reinstated to the Spain squad should he himself fail to make the cut.

The 28-year-old has not quite made the impact in Turkey many were expecting following his move from Real Mallorca last summer. He has only found the net seven times for the Turkish outfit in 34 competitive games and, along with a few personal issues, his spot in the Spanish national squad has been put in jeopardy.

La Furia Roja will take on Turkey in a 2010 World Cup qualifier next weekend but Guiza admitted he will not be too beat up if he fails to make the convoy to face the country where he is currently plying his trade.

“If I find out on Friday that I have not made the squad, then the only thing I can do is to continue working and wait for the next opportunity,” he said in an interview with Marca.

“It would be hard to take because I’ve already been in the squad so many times, I’ve been a champion with them, I have not yet suffered a defeat, and because it’s a big and close-knit group. It will be hard not to be with my team-mates.

“But if Raul is chosen to take over my spot, then he deserves it. He has achieved many things with Real Madrid and with Spain and if [Vicente] del Bosque considers it fitting to call him up, then perfect.

“If Raul is better than me or the other forwards, then the coach has to take him.”

Guiza also revealed that he is not yet ready to return to La Liga football despite struggling to settle into the Turkish Super Lig.

“I still have four more years in my contract and I would like to fulfil it,” he declared. “I will be thrilled to return to Spain one day, but for now, I am happy here.”

Spain will host Turkey at the Santiago Bernabeu on March 28 before travelling to Istanbul for the reverse clash on April 1.

KS Leong, Goal.com

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