Raul Gonzalez believes Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas both embody Real Madrid’s ‘nobility’ – a distinction which has served the club throughout their history.
The legendary striker, who is Los Blancos’ all-time top goalscorer and appearance maker, spoke to magazines Panenka and So Foot about his time at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“I don’t quite understand the meaning of Galacticos. It's a term which I don’t like. I like football in its purest form. This concept isn’t a part of football, it’s something else,” the Spaniard remarked.
“We signed the best players every summer and when I saw these world stars in training, I thought to myself, ‘what can I do to be even better?’
“I’ve dedicated my life to what I love doing, playing football. Once I came second in the running for the Ballon d’Or and then third.
“Could I have won it? Maybe, but I don’t care. Football’s a team sport.
“[Madrid’s nobility] is well represented by Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas and also many foreigners, who have been at the club for a long time and know what [their nobility] means.”
Raul, who came out of retirement after a two-year spell with Al Sadd to play for New York Cosmos last October, also issued a warning to former Barcelona rival Xavi Hernandez about what to expect in Qatar.
“I became used to playing in half-empty stadia. In Qatar, no-one was in the stands,” he added.
“Suddenly, I feel like I’m at the [Santiago] Bernabeu again [referring to New York Cosmos].”
