Raul’s Declining Influence: A Legendary Real Madrid Career at it’s Twilight

A highly symbolic moment took place at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu last weekend. As Real Madrid cantered to a Cristiano Ronaldo inspired 6-2 victory over Villarreal, they did so without the presence of their captain, leader and inspiration over so many years – Raúl Gonzalez.

That in itself is quite normal. At 32 years of age, the great Raúl’s on-field influence has waned in recent months, largely due to the massive influx of fresh talent acquired by los Merengues over the course of an extraordinary summer spending spree. These days it is the Ronaldos, Kakas and Higuains of this world who hold centre stage at the Bernabeu.

But the moment of symbolism came later on.

Real’s famous number 7 was sent on, to a hero’s welcome, as a late substitute for Kaka in the 80th minute when, 7 minutes later, the home side were awarded a penalty. After the referee pointed to the spot a messy squabble ensued between Xabi Alonso and Cristiano Ronaldo over who would take the spot kick. Alonso wanted his first ever goal for Real, Ronaldo wanted to complete his hat-trick having scored two already.

Usually in this sort of scenario, Raúl would be the main man – either taking the penalty himself or at the forefront of the decision-making process as captain. But in this instance he was nowhere to be seen. The Bernabeu faithful had no doubts about who they wanted to see take the penalty. Raúl’s name echoed vibrantly around the terraces as fans made it perfectly clear he is still their number 1 football idol. Nevertheless the bickering took place without Raúl, who looked on just like any other teammate before Alonso won the argument and put away the penalty.

Though it may appear insignificant, this was a highly symbolic moment in the history of Raúl Gonzalez at Real Madrid. A changing of the guard if you will.

As two of Real’s shiny new toys argued away over whose turn it was to hog the limelight, nobody asked Raúl to make the decision. Nobody turned to the legendary ‘El 7′ to give him the ball, as was his right for so many years. And, interestingly enough for a character with such a Machiavellian history behind the scenes at los Blancos, Raúl himself did not attempt to have his own say, despite the crowd’s desires.

In terms of team dynamics this small passage of play underlined the changing politics at Real Madrid. It lays bare the fact that, under Manuel Pellegrini, Raúl is no longer top dog.

Reduced to bit part player status, the massive groundswell of fan affection and the undoubtedly huge influence Raúl possesses in the Bernabeu corridors of power are no longer enough for the Spaniard to wield any great say over Pellegrini as the Chilean coach attempts to imprint his own mark on the Real Madrid team and squad.

Machiavelli in this

Raúl’s towering status at Real Madrid, and just how much power he holds at the club, have always been subjects of much rumour in Spain. Real’s all-time top La Liga goalscorer is often depicted as master courtier, artfully pulling the strings through a mix of manipulative cunning and a vindictive bite reserved for anyone who dares cross his path.

Examples of Raul’s bite are plentiful. Former Real youngster Javier Portillo’s father alleges that Raúl ostracised his son during Portillo’s unsuccessful spell there, eventually forcing him out of the club. “Raúl never wanted my son to play for Real Madrid, ever. He didn’t like Portillo because he could make him look bad.”

An article by Diego Torres in El Pais claimed in 2008 that Raúl regularly undermined coach Bernd Schuster, eventually contributing to the German’s sacking. “Raúl effectively works as the sporting director from the shadows,” wrote Torres. “He approves all the important decisions taken by the management. He is the man who talks most often with Calderón and Mijatovic… Behind the scenes, Raúl knows more than Schuster about the club’s sporting plans. Raúl is not just any old player. He is the man with the most political power at the club.”

Manuel Pellegrini seems to have learnt how to manage that political power. Earlier in the season Raúl’s influence remained ominous. Pellegrini found it hard to strike a balance to involve new attacking signings Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema, the increasingly prominent Higuain and the legacy of ‘El 7′. However, after Real’s form suffered and the club were shunted out of the Copa del Rey embarrassingly by lowly Alcorcon, Pellegrini stepped up to make the hardest of all decisions – taking Raúl head on and dropping him.

Raúl’s position at Real Madrid now is more peripheral, his 10 minutes against Villarreal a perfect example. “I don’t just give him minutes on the pitch for the sake of it, I do so because I have a lot of confidence in him,” Pellegrini stated last weekend. But the truth is Raúl is way down the Bernabeu pecking order at the minute – behind Ronaldo, Kaka, Higuain and Benzema as a forward option. Rumour now has it that despite the public’s undying affection for their famous number 7, a parting of the ways – perhaps to MLS – may be imminent this summer.

The infantile squabble between Xabi Alonso and Ronaldo may have appeared ridiculously petty, but the manner in which it was resolved tells a very important story about the declining influence of Real Madrid’s legen
dary favourite son.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMdglZzzQnI]

All-Time Greats, Raul, Real Madrid, Spain, Spanish Primera Division