Raúl: ten years of a goodbye through tears

Ten years have passed. It was on a day like today. Exactly on July 26, 2010. Raul He gathered at the Bernabéu an army of journalists from around the world. The big captain (He took over in 2003 after leaving the Fernando Hierro club) he decided to close his prolific white stage. Gone were 16 years commitment since it debuted in Zaragoza on October 29, 1994. The '7' left behind 741 games in the white shirt (He is still the most in the history of the club, ahead of Casillas and Sanchís) and 323 goals (only surpassed by Cristiano's 450 and ahead of Di Stéfano's 307). An empty Bernabéu (only altered by the thousand raulistas who had an accommodation in the corner of the south end, attending to the call of the AS newspaper) said goodbye to the legend, who was supported by her 16 titles won in those three decades of many lights and few shadows: 6 Leagues, 3 Champions, 2 Intercontinental, 1 European Super Cup and 4 Spanish Super Cups (Like Zidane, only the Copa del Rey was missing).

His speech filled us the eyes of tears: “Today more than ever I want everyone to know that in every play, in every dribble, in every race, in every uncheck, in every shot and in every gesture on the field of play I always tried to give the best of myself“. Raúl was wearing a blue jacket and a white shirt without a tie. He tried contain the emotionBut he collapsed when he went down to that lawn where he drew so many nights of glory. They embraced the hundreds of raulistas who did not want to believe that their departure had no solution. At least, Raul He was prophetic with what was going to happen years later: “Real Madrid has been my home and always will be. Now I reaffirm my commitment to this club. I will always be ready for what they need me”.

Said and done. After succeeding in the Schalke he went to Al-Sadd and taking advantage of the Bernabéu Trophy and the invitation to the Arab team was improvised a tribute at the Bernabéu that was owed to him. It was very special. There the seed of his return and the shadow of a possible electoral candidacy in which Figo, Morientes, Salgado or Hierro would have been. Raúl signed for Madrid three years ago and started in the lower categories. It was growing on the benches until Castile, your current destination. Many see him as Zidane's successor, when Zinedine wants to end his impeccable career with the first team. Raúl left as a player just ten years ago, but his white legend still has many chapters to write…