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Real captain Raul gets squad backing
MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid's players have firmly backed their iconic captain Raul Gonzalez and want him to stay, Spanish sports daily Marca reported on Thursday.
Rumours have been circulating in the Spanish media for weeks that the 29-year-old striker could leave at the end of the season.
Relations between Raul and the club's new president Ramon Calderon, who was elected last summer, are believed to have soured after the player publically criticised Calderon in January for making adverse comments about the playing staff.
Marca conducted a series of interviews with Real players and they unanimously pleaded with Raul to stay at the Spanish giants on Thursday.
"The number 7 of Real Madrid is Raul. He's a perfectionist, I like him because he's always looking to improve every day," said Real defender and World Player of the Year Fabio Cannavaro.
"Raul is an institution and he's written some of the most important pages. He's one of the greats and it would be strange to see him in another jersey," added Roberto Carlos.
"He's a symbol of Real and I can't imagine the team without him," commented Raul's fellow Spanish international Jose Antonio Reyes.
Raul made his debut for Real as a 17-year-old and has made more than 400 appearances for the club.
He was the Spanish first divisions leading scorer during the 1998-99 and 2000-01 seasons and has been capped 102 times by Spain, although he has not been picked by Spanish coach Luis Aragones since September last year.
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