Felix Magath, the Schalke coach, said he is confident of signing Raul, the Real Madrid legend, this summer. The Bundesliga club have already held talks with the Real captain, and Magath believes the 33-year-old striker, who has scored more than 300 goals for Madrid club, is primed for a move to Gelsenkirchen. "Raul has shown in every moment his interest in signing for our team and we believe he will arrive, be it in days or weeks," Magath said in quotes published by Marca.
Raul has also been linked with Tottenham and Newcastle, the English Premier League clubs, but Magath said the former Spain international will reject all offers to sign for Schalke. "We are aware that the Real Madrid striker is receiving other offers, but we also know he is turning them down," he said. "I am convinced Raul will end up playing for Schalke 04 next season." Bild, the German newspaper, claims Raul has already signed a two-year deal with Magath's side.
Quique Sanchez Flores, the Atletico Madrid coach, hopes Simao remains with the Europa League champions, who seem unlikely to retain another Portugal midfielder, Tiago this season. "He was an important element in last year's team," Sanchez Flores said of Simao yesterday. "If Simao stays, that would be great, but it's up to the club and the player to take the decision." Tiago appears set to return to Juventus after joining the Primera Liga side Atletico on loan in January.
"Whether he stays or not, whatever happens, I'd just like to say his work with the club was admirable," he said. The agent of Jung-soo Lee said the South Korea defender will move to Qatari club Al Sadd from Japan's Kashima Antlers. Lee, 30, scored twice for South Korea during the World Cup, against Greece and Nigeria, to help qualify the team for the knockout stages, where they lost to Uruguay in the last 16.
* Agencies
