Raul can be coach of Villarreal

Raul is currently the coach of the Real - Castilla reserve team, and is under contract until June 2024. However, the Bernabeu team is ready to liquidate the contract without asking for compensation, in order to create conditions for this legend to receive the first official coaching job.

Villarreal is looking for a new coach. Two days ago, they sacked Setien after only four rounds of La Liga due to poor performance. "Golden Submarine" won Mallorca 1-0 in the second round, but lost to Real Betis, Barca and Cadiz in the remaining three rounds.

According to COPE, Real know Villarreal is targeting Raul and have prepared for the departure of the 46-year-old former striker with the willingness to let Alvaro Arbeloa succeed him.

Besides Raul, Villarreal also targeted some leaders who are currently unemployed, such as Julen Lopetegui, Marcelo Gallardo or Pacheta. Since La Liga is taking a two-week break, making room for the national teams to gather, Villarreal is in no hurry. They are thoroughly researching each candidate to find the best one.

Raul has always been close to Villarreal. He was a close friend of the late director of this club Jose Manuel Llaneza. For a long time, the former Real striker also frequented two Villarreal leaders Fernando Roig and Fernando Negueroles. Roig once expressed his admiration for Raul's management ability and way of taking care of young players.

Raul has led Real's youth team, reserve team and U19 team since starting his coaching career in 2018. He has not yet had the opportunity to be the head coach of a club. The 46-year-old former striker has been with Real since he was 15 years old. He reaped many glory while playing for the club from 1994 to 2010. From 2010, Raul played the last years of his career for Schalke 04, Al Sadd before retiring in 2015 with the New York Cosmos shirt.