Real Madrid legend’s shock return becoming ‘more concrete’

Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez has held talks with Schalke 04 to become the club’s next coach, according to Spanish and German media.

One of the biggest names in German football find themselves teetering on the brink – once again. While some of the talk of Schalke 04 potentially ceasing to exist has been exaggerated, it is true that the club’s recent past has been exceedingly bleak.

Now mired in second-tier mediocrity, Germany’s second-biggest club (in terms of members) are on the hunt for a new coach. Belgian tactician Karel Geraerts did not manage to turn things around and was unceremoniously sacked at the weekend after an unprecedented collapse against fellow strugglers Darmstadt, which saw Schalke lose 5-3 after storming into a 3-0 lead.

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Club legend Marc Wilmots was also relieved of his duties as sporting director amid reports that he and Geraerts did not get along with squad builder Ben Manga, who enjoys a sparkling reputation as a discoverer of talent in Germany.

Indeed, the summer’s business of signing young players with a high sell-on value to help the indebted club balance the books was not particularly welcomed by the former coach and he refused to use some of the prospects signed by Manga.

Schalke make Raul contact

Now, the idea is for Schalke to hire a manager with a more progressive approach and someone who is willing to cooperate with Manga and share his vision. This has led to Schalke opening talks with a familiar face.

Initially billed as a ‘dream’ target, it seems that a dream could become reality as Schalke have begun courting former star striker Raul. The Real Madrid legend has been in charge of Los Blancos’ Castilla team for a few years and is highly rated.

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Both BILD and Relevo report that a meeting between Schalke bosses, including Manga, and Raul has taken place in Spain to gauge his willingness to return to Gelsenkirchen.

However, this is the only point on which the two outlets agree. While the German report insists that the 47-year-old is keen to leave Spain because he does not want to work for anyone other than Real Madrid, the Spanish piece claims that he has reservations about departing.

Raul is far from the only candidate being considered, but he would be Schalke’s preferred target. He is also on the list of turmoil-stricken Bundesliga side Hoffenheim.

When quizzed on the matter, Manga gave a tantalising response: “Of course, Raul is a name that excites. It’s normal that you [the media] are looking at him – and maybe so are we.”