Raul bids an emotive farewell to Real Madrid (News Feature)

By Duncan Shaw Jul 26, 2010, 13:06 GMT

Madrid - Raul bade an emotive, almost tearful, farewell to Real Madrid on Monday at a packed press conference at the Estadio Bernabeu, announcing his departure from the club after 16 memorable years of goals and trophies.

The 33 year-old veteran did not explain his sporting future, but he is reportedly close to signing a two-year contract with Bundesliga side Schalke 04.

The ceremony was preceded by a video of Raul's greatest goals and moments for Real, with his goals in the 2000 and 2002 Champions League finals featuring prominently.

After words of gratitude from Real president Florentino Perez and general director Jorge Valdano, Raul said: 'this is a hard day for me, the hardest day of my career. To be a player for Real Madrid is the greatest dream that I can imagine. I am a player and I will continue to play, but I will always be faithful to Real Madrid.'

Close to tears, he added that 'I am very grateful to this club, and to everyone who has supported me during these years. I will never forget them.'

He hinted at a possible return to the club in the future by saying that 'I have been very happy at Real Madrid and I will always be available to help the club in whatever it might need.'

After speaking, Raul signed autographs for the hundreds of fans who had turned out for his farewell.

Raul Gonzalez Blanco, to give him his full name, will enter the Real Madrid pantheon as one of the all-time white heroes.

He helped Real to win three Champions Leagues and six Spanish Ligas. He is the top scorer in the club's history, ahead of the legendary Alfredo Di Stefano, with 228 league goals in 550 matches.

In all competitions for Real, Raul scored 323 goals in 741 matches.

The headline on the website of Marca on Monday was 'Goodbye To Raul Madrid,' using an obvious play on words that has been popular ever since his debut in white back in 1994.

Radio Marca commented earlier on Monday that 'Raul is one of the greatest Real Madrid players ever,' whilst Cadena COPE said that 'the club, and Spanish football, will be a little bit poorer without him.'

Raul was given his first-team debut in 1994 by coach Valdano when he was a scrawny, unknown 17 year-old. Within months he was the new idol of the Estadio Bernabeu, with his sharp eye for goal and his never-say-die fighting spirit.

He also holds the all-time scoring record for the Spanish national team, having netted 44 times in 102 international matches, between 1996 and 2006.

Raul was controversially dropped by national manager Luis Aragones in 2006, and without him La Roja triumphed at Euro 2008 and at the 2010 World Cup.

Raul is the second Real veteran to say goodbye to Real this summer.

On Sunday mercurial playmaker Guti, also aged 33, bade farewell to the whites after 15 seasons. He is close to signing a two-year contract with Turkish side Besiktas, now coached by former Real boss Bernd Schuster.

New Real coach Jose Mourinho is determined to build an aggressive, disciplined young team capable of challenging Barcelona's hegemony.