Joan Laporta has made a move, and he's done it where it hurts the most: in the heart of Madridism. According to Madrid-Barcelona.com, the Barcelona president has established direct contact with Raúl González Blanco, a living legend of Real Madrid. His formal offer has left the Madrid camp stunned.
Xabi Alonso's arrival forces Raúl's departure
The news comes right after Raúl officially announced his departure from Castilla, after five years leading the Madrid reserve team. During this period, he trained and polished some of the most promising talents from La Fábrica. However, he wasn't offered the promotion to the first team that he so strongly desired.
Xabi Alonso's arrival as Ancelotti's replacement has been the last straw for Raúl's patience. Laporta has wanted to take advantage of it.
Barça has seen a unique opportunity to strike a psychological blow to their eternal rival. According to sources close to the club, Laporta has conveyed a concrete proposal to Raúl's camp. He has offered him the Barça Atlètic bench for next season, as part of a comprehensive renewal of the blaugrana youth system.
Learning Real Madrid's secrets
The idea is for Raúl to join Barça's coaching staff to leverage his experience. At the same time, to learn Real Madrid's secrets.
Why Raúl? At Barça, they value his training profile, his experience in youth development, and above all, the media impact of his arrival. Laporta knows that signing a Madridism icon is a masterstroke on a symbolic and media level. Although it may seem unthinkable, Raúl's response hasn't been a resounding no.
The former striker has always been a professional above all, and he hasn't hidden his disappointment with the treatment received from Real Madrid. Florentino Pérez has chosen Xabi Alonso as first team coach, abruptly closing any possibility of promotion for Raúl. The blaugrana offer, in this context, gains strength as a path for personal vindication.
A coach with experience in youth soccer
The culé camp doesn't rule out Raúl accepting. It would be a historic bomb, and it would mean seeing, for the first time in recent history, a Madrid legend wearing blaugrana colors. Even if only on the bench.
The Barça B locker room, if confirmed, would welcome a coach with a name, credentials, and ample experience in the lower divisions.
Additionally, Raúl would have the satisfaction that his work translates into the first team's trust in players who stand out in the reserve squad.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid remains silent. No one in Valdebebas expected this turn of events.
Raúl's departure seemed discreet, but Laporta has taken advantage of the move to rub salt in Madrid's wound. Will Raúl accept the offer from the eternal enemy?
The truth is that despite being a Real Madrid legend, Raúl has never shown himself to be anti-Barça. Throughout his career, he kept impeccable respect for Barcelona.
Additionally, his relationship with Florentino Pérez was never good. Not now as a coach, nor before as a player.
We'll have answers in the coming hours.