Raul: The Figure Of Consistency, Should He Step Down?

(Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Raul joined Real Madrid's academy in 1992, and earned first team status in 1994 at the age of 17.

Since then Raul has won many trophie, and individual honours with Real Madrid, while having been the most important component of the club's setup.

Raul has always been a consistent goalscorer except for three seasons (2003-04, 2004-05, and 2005-06) when he was played out of his position, while the club had changed six managers.

But in the reign of Bernd Schuster, he regained his form and bagged 18 goals in 37 La Liga appearances, same as the season gone by.

Raul is the all-time leading goalscorer for Real Madrid in La Liga with 316 goals, the leading goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League with 64 goals and the leading goalscorer for Spain with 44 goals, which just goes to show the importance of Raul.

Now, with the arrival of Karim Benzema to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid have got five striking options (Nistelrooy, Raul, Higuain, Benzema, and Huntelaar), provided they keep Huntelaar and Nistelrooy.

Raul's stats are incomparable to any others on the team but Raul is no longer the player he used to be.

He used to have pace and could create his own chances and finish like anything but now the things he has remaining are his touch and his ability to finish.

Now everyone at Real Madrid has a big question to answer:

Should Raul sit out on the bench?

Yes, he should.

Real Madrid also have Gonzalo Higuain who is also the same type of player as Raul and he has everything needed to be the successor of Raul, he has the skills and finishing and more importantly pace which Raul does not have.

Throughout the season Higuain created the chances for others and himself when the midfield didn't provide, which clearly is not Raul's piece of cake anymore.

It is a sure thing that Benzema would be in the starting 11 for the next season, but if Raul is also in the starting 11, that would mean Higuain would be wasting his precious years by sitting out on the bench, which is not a good thing for Higuain's career, even Raul is full of praise or Higuain, Raul should sit out for Higuain.

Raul should become a player/coach, helping Benzema, Higuain and other young strikers of the club.

No, He shouldn’t.

Raul has always performed for Real in every season for 16 years, he is a legend of the club.

So what if he's 31, he is scoring important goals every season and aren't goals what matter?

Plus Higuain is just 21 and is too inexperienced, someone as experienced as Raul sitting out is just stupidity.

Also Raul has a "contract for life" (his contract will be renewed annually for as long as he plays 30 games per season) which means if he sits on the bench and does not play 30 matches, his contract is over and he would have to retire at some other club, it's a shame if your legend retires at some other club.

Personally, I think Raul sitting on the bench and changing his role to a player/coach would be a good thing for everyone, Higuain should get what he deserves.

What do you feel, should Raul sit on the bench?

Note: I would like to thank Abhimanyu Vinay Rajput, who helped me sort out the article before publishing. Thanks again AVR.

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