15 January 2007
RAFA ON PROWL FOR RAUL
By Martin Lipton
RAFA BENITEZ is ready to capitalise on the unrest at Real Madrid by tabling a bid to bring skipper Raul to Anfield.
The Liverpool boss knows the Real hierarchy are ready for a major clear-out at the club with more players following David Beckham and Ronaldo through the exit door.
Whether Italian boss Fabio Capello stays or is replaced - with Jose Mourinho top of the wanted list - it seems that Real president Ramon Calderon is ready to sanction a massive overhaul.
And if Real are prepared to let Raul go, Benitez will offer the 29-year-old a three-year contract this summer.
Raul himself is understood not to want to leave the club he joined from bitter rivals Atletico as a schoolboy and for whom he has scored a record 54 Champions League goals.
But Calderon's plans are for a new-look team based on youth and Benitez is ready to take advantage by offering to buy out the last three years of Raul's existing deal at the Bernabeu. Raul's agent, Gines Carvajal, has made it clear that if Real are willing to let the striker leave in the summer, he would "move to England without any problems".
Benitez worked with Raul when he was in charge of the Madrid youth set-up in the mid-90s and has maintained on good terms with his fellow Castilian.
Raul was also a frequent visitor to Liverpool during close pal Fernando Morientes' spell at Anfield, where he discovered at first hand the professional structure of the club and the sheer fervour of the Kopites.
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has revealed the takeover of the club by investors from Dubai is almost complete and that a concrete announcement will be made "relatively soon".
Dubai International Capital, the investment arm of the Dubai government, tabled a reported £450million bid in December and are currently completing legal formalities and the process of due diligence.
Parry said: "A huge amount of work has been going on from both parts. I imagine we'll have something concrete to say relatively soon on that."
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...name_page.html
I would of thought Rafa would of learnt his lesson after the disappointing El Moro
RAFA ON PROWL FOR RAUL
By Martin Lipton
RAFA BENITEZ is ready to capitalise on the unrest at Real Madrid by tabling a bid to bring skipper Raul to Anfield.
The Liverpool boss knows the Real hierarchy are ready for a major clear-out at the club with more players following David Beckham and Ronaldo through the exit door.
Whether Italian boss Fabio Capello stays or is replaced - with Jose Mourinho top of the wanted list - it seems that Real president Ramon Calderon is ready to sanction a massive overhaul.
And if Real are prepared to let Raul go, Benitez will offer the 29-year-old a three-year contract this summer.
Raul himself is understood not to want to leave the club he joined from bitter rivals Atletico as a schoolboy and for whom he has scored a record 54 Champions League goals.
But Calderon's plans are for a new-look team based on youth and Benitez is ready to take advantage by offering to buy out the last three years of Raul's existing deal at the Bernabeu. Raul's agent, Gines Carvajal, has made it clear that if Real are willing to let the striker leave in the summer, he would "move to England without any problems".
Benitez worked with Raul when he was in charge of the Madrid youth set-up in the mid-90s and has maintained on good terms with his fellow Castilian.
Raul was also a frequent visitor to Liverpool during close pal Fernando Morientes' spell at Anfield, where he discovered at first hand the professional structure of the club and the sheer fervour of the Kopites.
Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has revealed the takeover of the club by investors from Dubai is almost complete and that a concrete announcement will be made "relatively soon".
Dubai International Capital, the investment arm of the Dubai government, tabled a reported £450million bid in December and are currently completing legal formalities and the process of due diligence.
Parry said: "A huge amount of work has been going on from both parts. I imagine we'll have something concrete to say relatively soon on that."
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...name_page.html
I would of thought Rafa would of learnt his lesson after the disappointing El Moro
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