Leeds United sporting director Victor Orta has told Spanish media in an interview that Raul has impressed him in management in his role as gaffer of Real Madrid’s second side – after reports in January said he had rejected Leeds.
Having played 741 times for Real Madrid in his playing career – scoring 323 times – he has since become a manager. He took over Madrid’s second string in 2019, clocking up 117 games with the Castilla side and winning 50 times.
Spanish newspaper AS reported in February that Raul had rejected a move to Leeds. It comes after the Whites got rid of Jesse Marsch as manager. Immediately after the news Marsch had gone, Raul is said to have rejected Leeds.
Now, Orta has been asked about the job Raul is doing at Real Madrid with the B-team. He spoke about the job Raul is doing and how impressed he had been that he had guided his side to the UEFA Youth League title in 2019-20.
“I have followed him a lot and I have seen how he has been able to make the Youth League champion team, which is something that doesn’t happen at Real Madrid. It is not one of the most talented generations they have ever had.
“But they were champion, and I began to see that there was a coach there. Now he has a second coach on his staff whom I have known for a long time. I see a real evolution as a coach and I am very curious,” Orta said this week.
Raul has impressed Victor Orta after reports said he rejected Leeds
The future of current boss Javi Gracia is up for debate. He signed a ‘flexible contract’, likely to be until the end of the season. But it might include a clause that says if he keeps Leeds up, then he gets the job on a permanent basis.
But it might also be that Leeds will review the work he has done at the end of the season and decide accordingly. Clearly, Orta likes the look of Raul and if he can convince the legendary Spaniard to join Leeds, he might pursue it.
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