By David Gold
May 15 – Qatari side Al Sadd have clinched the signing of Spain’s former international star Raúl on a reported one-year contract.
Al Sadd competed at last year’s FIFA Club World Cup, where they lost to Barcelona in the semi-finals, and the signing is a further confirmation of Qatar’s increasing profile in the sport.
Raúl, who has been linked with a recall to the Spain squad for this summer’s UEFA European Championship to cover for injured striker David Villa, is the all-time leading scorer in UEFA’s Champions League with 71 goals from 144 games.
The now 34-year-old then shone for Schalke 04 (pictured below) after leaving Real Madrid two years ago, scoring 28 goals in two seasons for the German club.
He previously scored a record 323 goals in 741 appearances for Madrid, as well as becoming the first player to score in two Champions League finals when Real beat Valencia in 2000 and Bayern Leverkusen two years’ later.
“Al Sadd Club will hold a news conference on Sunday (May 20) to introduce Raúl González to the media after signing the player who will join the team starting from next season 2012-2013,” said a statement on the club’s website.
“Raúl has arrived in Doha and attended the final match of the Emir Cup between Al Sadd and Al Gharafa at Khalifa International Stadium.”
It had been confirmed in April that Raúl would leave Schalke, and there had been speculation that he could cross the Atlantic and move to Major League Soccer in the United States.
The forward’s international career effectively ended in 2008 when he was not called up to the Spain squad for the European Championship, which the country subsequently won.
Qatar’s growing presence in football was greatly enhanced by winning the rights to host the FIFA World Cup 2022.
The Qatar Foundation also became the first-ever paid-for shirt sponsor of Spanish giants Barcelona last year.
The Gulf state has also invested in Paris St Germain which, thanks to its investment, is second in the French Ligue 1, while another Qatari-owned team, Malaga, secured a maiden place in next season’s Champions League by finishing fourth in Spain’s La Liga Premier division yesterday.
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