Three goals in four matches and all goals have been the moments that spurred the turnaround of the matches. Raul’s header against Atletico Madrid in the derby was reminiscent of all those scores of goals that he has been putting his signature on all his life. To prove that that wasn’t simply wasn’t a fluke, he scored in the very next week against Villarreal, this time he did so with a toepoke, again a trademark finish that has earned him his livelihood and on Tuesday poached a headed goal off a Ruud van Nistelrooy cross against visiting side Werder Bremen in the UEFA Champions League. The reinvention of Raul commenced last season when the suggestion that he was unearthing his old self from the ruins of the past gathered momentum and in the first couple of games in the new season, the conviction that he can do it has strengthened.

Capello Unearthed A Dormant Giant

The archaeological expedition commenced last season under Italian hard man Fabio Capello when he started getting on the scoresheet more frequently than he was wonted to in the twilight of the inevitably doomed galacticos era of Real Madrid and gradually he was reviving the years that witnessed him rise to the pedestal of the striker with the most frightening record in European football with 3 UEFA Champions League gold medals and 5 La Liga championship trophies. He scored 5 league goals and also added to his CV a decent number of goals in the Champions League. All suspicions of Raul getting heavy on his legs, losing his abiity and rapidly fading into footballing oblivion were ceased when under the strict disciplinarian Capello, he was constantly getting games even when he couldn’t contribute in terms of goals.

Recent Revival For Raul At Real

This season, Raul has started to roll back those golden years when he was rated as the arch goal poacher in Spain. The “King of Spain” has hit the back of the opposition net twice already in the opening two matches in La Liga and more importantly, the Spaniard has been contributing to Real’s game. Raul knows that this season, he would have to be doubly active and would have to look over his shoulder from time to time. Last season’s title triumph, which was in fact the first silverware that the club had managed to smuggle into its trophy cabinet in four years, kindled a wild spending spree in the transfer market in the summer. Javier Pedro Saviola has been signed on a free transfer, Gonzalo Higuain has exhibited considerable promise since his incorporation into the team in the January transfer window and Ruud van Nistelrooy, last season’s Pichichi winner, has to be the number one striker for the new Real manager Bernd Schuster. Raul knows that to keep his place in the first string, he has to watch his heels and more importantly watch where the opposition’s goal is.

That is exactly what he has done in the first five games this season for Madrid. He has absorbed a habit over the years of scoring against Real’s bitter cross-city rivals Atletico Madrid—the club that he was raised and nurtured at till he was 15 years old when the then Atletico President Jesus Gil decided to abolish the club’s entire youth system—and he continued the streak at the Bernabeu this season too. 1-0 down in the very first minute itself, then the vintage Raul header in the 15 minute from a Wesley Sneijder cross and the comeback was given the green light. In the next match it was Raul’s vision and schooling in the art of opportunism that created his goal against Villarreal at El Madrigal. An exquisite 45-yard through ball from man of the moment Sneijder and there was Raul, getting behind his marker and kissing the ball home.

Champions League Top Goal Scorer Raul

It was not his goal alone that stood out in that 5-0 mauling of Manuel Pellegrini’s side. Schuster decided to employ Raul as the main striker against Villarreal, a slot that has been, so far, reserved exclusively for van Nistelrooy who played as the second striker in the match. Raul has thrived on loose balls and chiseled passes all his career and he was doing so once more. Come this Tuesday and Raul’s favourite competition, the European Champions League: against Werder Bremen at the Bernabeu; Raul stole ahead of his marker in the 16th minute and placed his place at the right time and at the right place to add one more goal to his Champions League tally. Raul currently holds the record for most goals in the UEFA Champions League, Europe’s premier competition so far he has scored 57 and counting. His commitment and display was hailed by Marca and AS, the two highest selling daily sports papers in Madrid and suddenly, a marked swagger was noticeable in Raul’s steps and optimism is surging once more.

But Raul’s steps at the club have never been completely devoid of thorns; his rhythm at Real Madrid has twice been punctuated by desperate suggestions of him leaving the club. First in the middle of the 2004-2005 season when the Zidanes, Figos, Ronaldos et al were stubbornly draining down the hill and Raul promised to move away from the club should that help it in any way. Then last season, after a 1-0 defeat to Getafe in the opening few weeks of the season which Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas described as the worst game he has ever featured in for Real Madrid, Raul was reported to be considering a exit in the winter transfer period. But how could the club icon be let to depart? Raul stayed on and did play a significant role in bringing the Spanish league crown home; this season, he plans not only to successfully defend the Spanish championship trophy but also win the Champions League as well.

What Does The Future Hold For Raul?

At 30, Raul knows that the ruthless policy of Real Madrid of chopping off the old and worn out sentinels and recruiting new guards could turn its sword towards him pretty soon. But Raul also knows deep in his heart of hearts that he far from finished as a top-level striker in football. Greater things are anticipated from the man who rose from the humble San Cristobal de los Angeles neighbourhood of Madrid and became the talisman of the biggest and most successful club in history.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has given his management team till the close of the Transfer Window to secure the services of the World’s most flamboyant player. Even though his buy out clause is reportedly £85m, the Russian businessman has allegedly met with the players advisors.

Barca Could Pay The Cost Of Increasing Taxes

Ronaldinho is due to naturalised and awarded Spanish nationality as he has been resident in Spain for five years. Naturalisation is usually what most Brazilian players look for when they join clubs in Spain and Portugal, however they do not earn as much as Ronaldinho, his naturalisation would see him lose his overseas status with the Tax Man, almost doubling his tax bill to the Spanish government.

His reluctance to pay this level of tax and the recent arrival of Thierry Henry who has reignited his friendship with Eto’o, and there is no love lost between the African and the Brazilian. All of these factors could be the cause of the increased interest from Stamford Bridge.

Having lost his legal action with Manchester United and the Premier League halting his move to Liverpool. Argentinean defender Gabriel Heinze has left England to join Spanish giants Real Madrid.

The £8 million deal will see the defender line up alongside World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro in the Madrid defence, he has been drafted in to replace Bernabeu legend Roberto Carlos.

Sir Alex Ferguson Calls For Investigation In To Liverpool Involvement In The Transfer

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has wished Heinze well at his new club, in the press conference ahead of this weekend’s clash against Tottenham Hotspur. However he has said that United will be investigating Liverpool’s involvement in unsettling one of the players who helped United win back the Premiership last season.

Robben Wanted To Leave Chelsea

Arjen Robben could not wait to leave Stamford Bridge, he cited the management’s lack of confidence due to his injuries as the main reason for his willingness to leave. However just as important to him was the fact that he had won everything in English football during his three years at Chelsea. He has signed a deal that will keep him in the Spanish capital for five years.

Spanish striker Fernando Torres will complete his £26.5 million transfer to Merseyside from the Spanish capital tomorrow. Athletico have confirmed that they are selling their club captain and most prized asset. The club website indicates there will be a ‘farewell press conference’ tomorrow.

The deal sees the Spaniard sign a six year deal worth about £90k a week. The arrival of ‘El Nino’ has sparked rumours about the future Liverpool’s current strikers Bellamy and Crouch.

The deal also sees Kop favourite Luis Garcia move in the other direction in a £4m deal. Garcia spent a year at Athletico when he moved from Real Valladolid before he joined Barcelona.

Just days after finalising the season tickets for next season, Arsenal have announced that they will be selling club captain Thierry Henry. Ever since the departure of David Dein there has been a multitude of stories about the instability of the clubs future.

A number of high profile players have made comments in the press about where they see their future. The presence of influential Frenchmen Wenger & Henry were the factors that most players said would ensure that they committed their futures to the North London club.

Now with Henry’s imminent departure a matter of tying up loose ends and organising the removal men, and Wenger having just one more year left on his deal. There could be a mass exodus from Ashburton Grove or at least a struggle to regain the glory of the last ten years.

Arsenal have been quiet in the transfer window, probably due to the fact that chief deal maker David Dein has resigned, compounded by the constant stream of rumours about the club and the future of the two biggest names at the club. Few players would want to come to a club knowing that the manager could be different in a few months at worst or in a year at best. Although there could be an opportunity for some of the clubs youngsters to stand up and make an name for themselves in a similar manner to the way Henry did eight years ago.

Arsenal captain Thierry Henry is on his way to La Liga runners up Barcelona. The club appear to have cashed in on the French striker just one season after getting him to commit his future to Arsenal. However there have been a number of changes this season behind the scenes, David Dein left following a fall out with the board.

The main contributory factor to Henry’s decision is the uncertainty over the future of manager Arsene Wenger, a number of the first team players including former Barca player Cesc Fabregas have indicated in interviews that they would consider their future if the influential Frenchman were to leave Ashburton Grove. Wenger has been linked with managerial positions at both Barcelona and Real Madrid in recent weeks.

Henry had been linked with a move away from Arsenal for the last couple of seasons, but remained at the club giving the fans the hope that they would get back on the winning track next season. However the Arsenal squad is not what it was and Henry feels that the time is right to move. Some commentators might use the fact that Henry was pictured wearing a ‘Spurs’ shirt as the reason for his quick departure from the club, after he attended a basketball game in America. The deal is believed to be in the region of €24m Euro which is a reasonable return for the club after the years of service and success Henry and his goals have brought the club.

David Beckham was fit enough to start his final game for Real Madrid, his wife and children watching him from the stands of the Santiago Bernabeu with their new friends Hollywood phenomenon ‘TomKat’ Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, presumably in Spain to help the Beckham’s move to Los Angeles.

The script of the season would be fitting of one of Tom Cruise’s Hollywood flicks, Beckham makes millions for the clubs marketing machine while failing to win any medals. He falls out of favour with both club and country, signs the biggest deal in the history of the sport where he will earn more money than it costs to buy some Premier League clubs. Then he manages to over come all the odds to help both club and country once again becoming the catalyst of the team. The whole season resting on the result of the game ahead, it seemed a story that Disney couldn’t make up.

However it was to become even more unbelievable when the Galacticos found themselves a goal behind in the first half. Beckham was substituted with an injury to his left ankle that will no doubt have all concerned in the Home Depot Center very worried. His replacement Jose Antonio Reyes who is on a season long loan from Arsenal seemed to be playing for a future in Spain. He scored the equaliser before an own goal put the champions elect in the lead.

Real Madrid’s fate and Beckham’s entry in to the history books was sealed ten minutes from time when Reyes curled a sublime shot in to the Mallorca goal. The new Spanish champions then said their goodbyes to their departing players giving each their opportunity to say goodbye to the home fans. Even though Beckham’s departure was the highest profile, the final goodbye was from another Galactico, Roberto Carlos. Carlos has spent 12 years at the Bernabeu winning a number or league titles and three Champions Leagues in his tenure that saw him secure the title of the worlds best left back.

The great Beckham debate has begun again, following his inclusion in Steve McClaren’s squad for the upcoming matches against Brazil and Estonia. All involved with brand Beckham will have been delighted at the increased elevation of his already massive profile.

Many pundits, fans and ex-pros have all had their say and their reaction is mixed. As many saying it was a bad idea as those saying it is good, their qualification to form their opinion is more debatable than the former captains inclusion in the squad.

Beckham has been an integral part of Real Madrid’s surge to the top of la Liga and they are just two wins from securing their first silverware in four years, thanks to their results against second placed Barcelona who have a much healthier goal difference. Indeed both his club manager and his team-mates feel that he deserved a place in the England squad.

So why the great debate? All McClaren has done is his job, even if it has reportedly upset his number two Terry Venables, pick players who will do the best job for England. Choose the players with the most skill and form, and harness those attributes and impart tactics on the players to ensure and English victory. Which is something he has not really done since he took charge of Sven’s England team after last years World Cup. McClaren cut Beckham loose after he stood down from his role as captain, but not for footballing reasons, but because he could not handle the brand Beckham roadshow. Although to be fair Beckham’s form was poor, but then so was the form of many of England’s other top talents, yet they remained part of the plan. Beckham could have helped develop some of the younger talent but he was tossed aside like last years kit.

For years players have been picked for England due to their name and reputation or for their commercial appeal. Some were picked and played out of position, others picked just to help them win appearance records, or because of their familiarity with their club team-mates. When really the player who has contributed most for their club in each position of the system that the England manager has selected should be the one who makes the team.

Maybe if McClaren and future England managers were to make the England team a meritocracy instead of a popularity contest among a club of old boys. It might better serve those who it matters to most… the England supporters!

As the rain came down in sheets on the surface of Hampden Park the two Spanish side took the field to contest the 2007 UEFA Cup final. Sevilla opened the scoring within twenty minutes through Correia, to edge closer to being the first club to retain the UEFA Cup since 1986 when the feat was achieved by Real Madrid.

Espanyol fought back and had an equaliser just ten minutes after going behind. Former Manchester City midfielder Albert Riera’s shot deflected in to Palop’s goal.

In the second half Espanyol were reduced to 10 men when Hurtado was issued with his second yellow, resulting in his dismissal. Leaving his team mates with a mountain to climb. They managed to hold on for the 90 minutes, forcing the game into extra time.

Extra-time brought its very own drama, Sevilla were dominating the game in terms of possession and territory, but they lacked the finishing touch. Until the end of the first half when former Spurs striker Kanoute pushed home a David Garcia cross at the near post.

The game was far from over Espanyol had a whole half of extra time to get back in to the game. It took just ten of the fifteen minutes for them to get level. The goal did not come from an obvious source, substitute Jonatas, his thunderous strike took a minor deflection off Poulsen to even the score and force penalties. Which were won convincingly by Sevilla 3-1.

Yes, the headline is correct! Woodgate has got the move he has dreamed about since he was a boy. He had been on loan as part of his recovery from the recurring injury that ended his Newcastle United playing career.

Woodgate has been playing well and receiving rave reviews from fans and pundits alike. However Madrid have elected to sell him for a fee believed to be around £7m rather than recall him to play in their defence.

It appears that after a long search and intense negotiations that Gareth Southgate has found a player that can fill the gaping hole in the Boro defence his transition to management created.