Real Madrid Legend Raul Outrages Madridistas By Leaving The Door Open To Barcelona

Former Real Madrid captain Raul Gonzalez Blanco, known as Raul, looks to have outraged Los Blancos supporters once again after an interview with Catalan-based newspaper Sport. When asked if he could see himself working for any club other than Madrid, including Barcelona, his response was “I like to take things step by step. The first thing is to go back home, which is to Real Madrid, when the moment is right. But this is football and you can never say that I will not do this, or do that.”

It’s a defensible response in that he’s an ambassador for Spanish football, and he has to be politically correct. The fact that he has to be balanced is true to a certain degree, and it’s good that he’s at least trying to take whatever role he approaches next seriously. This is in stark contrast to former Barcelona president and current Vice President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation Joan Gaspard. 

However, these comments are just another example of Raul’s “softness” towards FC Barcelona. He’s angered Real fans over the past couple of months by attending Barcelona’s official unveiling of their new store in New York City, saying he’s happy when Barcelona win the Champions League and now not refusing the possibility of working for Barcelona. 

This is all very far from the old Raul who once silenced the Camp Nou. 

Capitan Raul silences the Camp Nou in 1999.... #ithappens pic.twitter.com/H4BTuIc3dD

— Real Madrid MEDIA (@Real_MadridGIFS) August 11, 2014

But this isn’t exactly a change of heart for Raul. Even while playing for Real Madrid, he would wish Barcelona all the best in Europe if Madrid couldn’t win the Champions League. 

In reality, a lot of Real Madrid fans are unhappy about Raul’s behavior for two reasons:

Obviously, The Rivalry Of El Clasico

Real Madrid supporters know that no former Barcelona great would ever treat them with such admiration. Has anyone ever heard of any former or current Barcelona player wishing Real Madrid all the best in the Champions League? 

I’m drawing a blank. What I do remember is Hristov Stoichkov, the individual with whom Raul posed with in New York City, posting a picture of himself stomping on a Real Madrid jersey.   

Just Say No

There is a difference between being politically correct and stating the obvious. Raul, a Real Madrid legend, working for FC Barcelona? How is it being politically incorrect to say never to working for Madrid’s arch rival or refusing to attend a FC Barcelona event? 

Could any of us see Steven Gerrard working for Manchester United or Ryan Giggs attending a Liverpool event? Absolutely not!

I can understand Raul trying to sell an image that Real Madrid and Barcelona are rivals but not enemies. However, it’s absolutely useless if Barcelona is also not directly involved. 

No former or current Barcelona player has ever been seen at a public Real Madrid event nor wished them well in the Champions League. I’m not saying that Barcelona should, but it shows that Raul’s attempts of creating a “Gentlemen’s Rivalry” are one-sided.