After 16 Years Raul Gonzalez Leaves Real Madrid

After 16 years....33-year-old Raul Gonzalez Blanco leaves Spanish giants Real Madrid. He is heading for German club Schalke 04 to play in Bundesliga. An era of achivements ends in Real Madrid.

He was just 17 when he joined Real Madrid and won six leagues, three European Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, one European Super Cup and four Copa del Rey in 15 seasons at the club. Raul has opted for the German club in order to increase his tally of 66 goals record in the Champions League.

Since 1994, he played 700 official games between league and international cups for Real Madrid.

We hope a great career in Schalke 04 too. You have made Real and Spain proud. Good Luck Raul!

Bayern Munich In Hunt For Ivica Olic

Bayern have now officially joined Juventus and Valencia in the chase to capture the 29-year-old Ivica Olic.

"We are convinced that Ivica would ideally suit our two strikers Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told Bild.


Ivica Olic joined Hamburg in January 2007 from CSKA Moscow and has scored 24 goals in 65 Bundesliga appearances.

French Mid-Fielder Franck Ribéry Back in Training At Bayern Munich

French midfielder Franck Ribéry took part in full training with Bayern Munich on Thursday for the first time since his Euro 2008 ankle injury and expects to play again by the end of September.

Having torn ankle ligaments in June, Ribery, 25, trained with his team-mates under new Bayern coach Jurgen Klinsmann in Munich watched by more than a thousand fans.

"He is working day after day with more energy, Franck is getting more and more confidence," said Klinsmann.

The Bayern boss expects Ribery to return for the German giants on September 27 for the Bundesliga match against Hanover.

The Frenchman damaged his ankle playing for his country in the 2-0 defeat at the hands of Italy on Tuesday June 17 during the Euro 2008 group stages and underwent surgery two days later.

No Fun For Lukas Podolski in Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski has admitted it was a mistake to move to the Bundesliga champions two years ago.

The Germany international joined Bayern from Cologne in 2006.

Podolski has not managed to hold down a regular starting berth in the Bayern first team over the past two years and, despite impressing in pre-season, does not seem set to do so this season either.

"Obviously, it is not so much fun at Bayern right now," he said.

"If things go on like this then I will have to consider my options.

"I would be a bad footballer if I were to be happy with a place on the bench. I am not moaning, I am just angry not to be starting games."

Podolski's affection for Cologne remains strong, though, and should they be able to accumulate enough funds to buy him in January, the Germany striker would not think twice.

"Cologne would always be an option for me and everybody knows that," he added.

"If I were to receive offers, it would be negligent of me not to consider them.

Bayern's next game is against Cologne and, should Podolski score, he has promised not to celebrate - like when he scored against Poland, his family's home country, at Euro 2008.

News Courtsey: Sportinglife.com

Bundesliga : Bayern Munich To miss Luca Toni And Ribery In Bundesliga season's opener

Italian striker Luca Toni will be out of Friday's Bundesliga season's opener for Bayern Munich against Hamburger SV.

Luca Toni topped Bundesliga last year with 24 goals and the Italian played a major role in Bayern's march to the championship and the German Cup title.

"We won't have him yet," Bayern's new coach Juergen Klinsmann said Wednesday.

Toni has been nursing a calf injury and is also recovering from a tooth operation.

Bayern Munich will also be without French midfielder Franck Ribery. Ribery is expected to be out at least through mid-September following ankle surgery for an injury he picked up at the European Championship in June.

HSV Hamburg Terminates Juan Pablo Sorin's Contract

Bundesliga side HSV Hamburg has told their Argentine defender Juan Pablo Sorin to find a new club for the coming season. He was told to find a new employer after he failed to turn up for the pre-season fitness appraisal or the start of training.

Juan Pablo Sorin signed for HSV Hamburg from Villarreal two years ago, but poor form in Bundesliga has restricted him to just 24 league appearances. His contract with the club ends nest summer, but Hamburg's new boss Martin Jol did not include him for the coming season.

HSV Hamburg are looking to negotiate a pay-off agreement with the former Argentina captain.