Real Madrid legend Raul was introduced at Veltins Arena to Schalke supporters on Wednesday.

Raul enjoyed a sixteen year career with the Madridistas and still holds the record as the club’s all-time top scorer.  However in the season past the 33 year old had fallen well down the pecking order in Madrid following last summers’ “New Galacticos Era” which ushered in the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema.

Previous reports had indicated Raul was being watched by several Premier League sides.  There were also murmurings that the striker was set to join Thierry Henry at the New York Red Bulls.  However the striker opted to sign with a club that in his own words is, “playing in the Champions League and fighting for the Bundesliga.”

During his unveiling ceremony the ever-smiling Madrid icon posed with two miners and a lump of coal at the Veltins Arena where Schalke are known as the “miners club.”

His number 7 jersey was ceded to him by Chinese midfielder Hao Junmin who will now play as the number 8.

Speaking to Spanish paper Marca, Raul was quoted as saying that he was, “excited to play and work very hard.  I hope that these two years are a marvelous experience.  I want to score goals, but the most important thing is the team, not the personal experience.  It has been that way for me for the past 16 years.”

Raul, along with Ballack, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Arjen Robben is one of a growing number of international stars who have joined Bundesliga sides in the last year.  With the Spanish striker’s prowess in front of goal added to the Schalke’s already formidable lineup, the club could be regarded as serious contenders for the Bundesliga title and for Champions League glory in the coming season.

Raul during an emotional farewell ceremony at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

What Raul does next will be fascinating, he has had feelers from both Germany and England and it would seem he will be making a decision shortly. For purely selfish reasons I hope he comes to grace the Premier League, although I fear the pace of English football might just catch up with Raul’s 33 year old legs rather quickly. While Madrid with no Raul seems inconceivable it will be very interesting to see how Raul copes being away from Los Merengues. Does he still have the same drive and passion to succeed? It is my view and hope that he does, the so-called best League in the world is as good a place as any to test that desire.
 
Raul missed out on Spain’s 2008 European Championship squad; and it brought the curtain down on his sparkling international career. Then Coach Luis Aragones decision to opt for youth over experience however was vindicated as Spain finally fulfilled their potential on the international stage, winning the tournament and drawing high praise from all quarters.
 
However many people, including myself, felt that Raul deserved his moment in the international sun and despite becoming World Champions earlier in July, their coronation seemed a slightly less grand affair without the former Prince of  Spanish football.
 
So as Real Madrid line up for the new season in their coliseum like Santiago Bernabeu there will likely be a superstar number seven in their midst, but he will play in the shadow of his former team mate. And a shadow cast by Raul may be too much of an obstacle for even Cristiano Ronaldo to overcome.

Is Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez on his way to Schalke?

While Bayern are apparently uninterested in bringing anybody in during this summer’s transfer window, Felix Magath’s Schalke, reportedly have 30 million Euros to spend and are intent on spending them.  Considering their relative success last season, a reinforced Schalke with Raul up top, would seem a serious contender for both Bundesliga and Champions League glory in the coming season.

Meanwhile van Nistelrooy’s Hamburg teammate, Marcell Jansen seems intent on remaining at the club in spite of serious interest from Liverpool.  Jansen was yet another strong performer during this summer’s World Cup and the left back even scored during Germany’s third place victory over Uruguay.

Sami Khedira still harbors strong aspirations to become a Real Madrid player and has even announced he would be willing to take a pay cut in order to join Los Merengues.   While the player’s agent was originally asking for a wage in the neighborhood of 7 million Euros a season, Khedira’s team have apparently returned to Madrid with instructions to negotiate for lower wage demands.

Stuttgart coach, Christian Gross, seems to have accepted that the player is on his way out and is already planning for a post-Khedira future.  Speaking to AS, Gross was quoted as saying, “Sami is very ambitious, when a big club comes calling I understand.  If Sami does go, we will look toward Phillip Degen of Liverpool and Andre Ayew of Marseille.” With Stuttgart asking somewhere in the region of 10 million Euros for Khedira, Gross may very well be able to look towards both players.

Werder Bremen, meanwhile have reportedly put a 15 million price tag on the much-sought-after Mesut Ozil.  The player has attracted no shortage of attention following his standout World Cup performance.  The latest transfer rumors have it that Catalan-giants, Barcelona are tracking him as a back-up in the event that they fail to lure Cesc Fabregas away from Arsenal.

Bremen, like Stuttgart, already seem to be planning for the departure of their star playmaker.  The club are said to have their eyes on Olympique Marseille midfielder, Hatem Ben Arfa.  The promising young player has struggled somewhat with the French champions and has recently been linked with a number of Premier League sides.  However with his flamboyant, attacking style, the pacy midfielder could be an ideal replacement for Ozil, who will almost surely depart Bremen before they match up against current champions, Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga season opener on August 20th.

American international midfielder Sal Zizzo was sent to Chivas USA after being placed in a weighted lottery.

The 23 year old wide midfielder was a stand out at the 2007 U-20 World Cup but failed to regularly earn minutes for the Hannover 96 first team, making only 8 appearances for the club, before tearing his ACL in October of last year.

Zizzo has earned one senior United States national team cap to date, playing 15 minutes in a 1-0 friendly loss to Sweden in August of 2007.

Chicago Fire, Toronto FC, Columbus Crew and New England Revolution opted out of Wednesday’s weighted lottery.

German national team manager Joachim Loew has agreed on a contract extension through Euro 2012.

After an impressive World Cup run, seeing the Germans finish 3rd for the 2nd straight World Cup, Loew will remain at the helm through July 31, 2012. The 50 year old manager has a 38-8-9 record as German national team manager, including a 2nd place finish at Euro 2008.

American international midfielder Sal Zizzo is reportedly headed to Major League Soccer.

The 23 year old wide midfielder was a stand out at the 2007 U-20 World Cup but failed to regularly earn minutes for the Hannover 96 first team, making only 8 appearances for the club, before tearing his ACL in October of last year.

Zizzo has earned one senior United States national team cap to date, playing 15 minutes in a 1-0 friendly loss to Sweden in August of 2007.

According to reports, German international teammates Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira could be on their way to the Santiago Bernabeu.

While no deal has yet been reached, consistent reports maintain that Real Madrid are preparing to make a move for Stuttgart’s Sami Khedira.  Real Madrid coach Jose’ Mourinho, apparently regards Khedira as kind of a fixer-upper project for the midfield.  Speaking to the press, the Special One was quoted as saying, “We go for Khedira, with a huge room for improvement.  It is a market direction that I love.” Khedira’s buyout clause is reported to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 million Euros, a Kings’ ransom for most of us but basically chicken change in the crazy world of Real Madrid.

Los Merengues also apparently have their eye on Khedira’s World Cup teammate, Mesut Ozil.  The 21 year old Werder Bremen player was another strong performer in Germany’s successful World Cup campaign.  With a 16 million Euro buyout clause the midfielder is also well within Real Madrid’s price range.  Reports indicate that the Spanish club has already made contact with Ozil’s agents and that the player has been stalling on signing a two year contract extension with Bremen.

Meanwhile Italian transfer expert, Pierpaolo Marino told Goal.com that Inter could be the latest club to join the pursuit for Wolfsburg striker, Edin Dzeko.  Dzeko has been one of the more hotly speculated-on transfer targets of the last couple of years.  The player has previously been linked with transfers to clubs such as Manchester City, Manchester United and Juventus.  The Italian champions are thought to be interested in the Bosnian hit man as a replacement for Mario Balotelli who looks set to complete a move to the English Premiere League in the coming season.

Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal has offered some constructive criticism for the German national team.  Van Gaal, who is rumored to have designs on a job in international coaching, says he would have preferred to see the Germans to play in a more attacking style.  Speaking of Germany’s 1-0 loss to Spain the Dutchman told Kicker magazine, “That was the only game in which the Germans did not attack.  Pity.”

Finally it seems that Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil are not the only hot German World Cup properties that are coveted in the Spanish capital.  A bid is apparently in the works to bring Paul “the oracle” octopus from his current digs in Oberhausen to the Madrid Zoo.  While Paul’s current transfer fee remains undisclosed, a Madrid Zoo spokesperson has stated that, “We are prepared to swap Paul for any animal that they may want.”

Paul, who retired from international football predictions after the World Cup, has become a very popular figure in Spain since predicting the Spanish victories over both Germany and the Netherlands.

Michael Ballack was introduced at Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.

The 33-year old Ballack defended his territory from Lahm in his inaugural press conference at the club where he enjoyed a previous successful stint from 1999 through 2002, saying that, “I am the captain of the national team.  This is not an issue for me.  I am the captain.”  He then added that, “One should respect that there are hierarchies.  I’m going to talk to Phillip about this.”

Lahm, who was celebrating his wedding day while Ballack was holding his press conference, has meanwhile committed his long-term allegiance to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.  Bayern is also said to be making a play for Ajax player Gregory van der Wiel.  The right back put in a sturdy performance in the Netherlands World Cup campaign which was lead by Bayern Munich winger, Arjen Robben.  Previously circulating rumors about Robben going to Barcelona seem to have subsided and in the light of the Catalan club’s recently revealed financial problems, such a move now seems highly unlikely.

Manchester City have apparently given up on their quest to land Wolfsburg goal-getting machine Edin Dzeko.  The Citizens are reportedly unwilling to meet the 40 million Euro price tag Wolfsburg have attached to the striker.  However currently there are reports that the big three in Italy, Inter, Junventus and Milan have all set their sights on Dzeko, as reportedly have Bayern Munich.

Wolfsburg have signed Simon Kjaer from Serie A side Palermo.  The Danish international is yet another player who seems to have brokered a transfer deal on the back of a solid World Cup performance.  Apparently the Wolves shelled out some 10 million Euros to bring the centerback to the Bundesliga.

Elsewhere Stuttgart have denied that a deal with Real Madrid is emminent for Sami Khedira.  The midfielder was a key element in the surprise success of the German team in this summer’s World Cup.  Despite Stuttgart and the players’ agent both saying there is no immediate deal in the works, there are consistent rumors that the midfielder will make the switch to the Spanish capital for somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 million Euros before the start of the La Liga season.

The 2010/2011 Bundesliga season will kick off on August 11th when defending league champions Bayern Munich host Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena in Munich.

Sidney Sam to Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer 04 Leverkusen had a great early season, but began to fall off toward the end. They are looking to change all of that as they announce the signing of Sidney Sam from Hamburger SV. Looking to strengthen their midfield, Sam has been signed to a 5 year contract. His contract will run until June, 2015.

The attacking midfielder found himself playing on loan to FC Kaiserslautern last season and proved to be a very big part in the team’s promotion to 1. Bundesliga.

Leverkusen Chairman Wolfgang Holzhäuser stated that “We have been following the player for a year, creating a transfer with perspective. We are excited for him to fulfil his potential as he develops into a leading Bundesliga player at our club.”

Head trainer, Jupp Heynckes also had something to say about the transfer: “Sidney Sam was a standout player in the 2. Bundesliga this season and had a big part to play in Kaiserslautern’s promotion. I believe he will integrate well into our squad.”

Eintracht Frankfurt Pick Up Theofanis Gekas

Frankfurt Coach Michael Skibbe originally tried to sign Theofanis Gekas last year, but the deal fell through hen it received no support from Frankfurt chairman Heribert Bruchhagen. That all changed this week when Bruchhagen threw his support behind the transfer and said “I am delighted to be able to fulfil the wish of our coach and sign Theofanis Gekas, a dangerous striker with lots of experience.”

The 29 year old Striker has been signed for a fee of 1 Million Euros and has signed a two year contract. Gekas spent last season playing with Frankfurt Rivals Bayer Leverkusen and is on the Greece National Team for the upcoming World Cup.

Borussia Dortmund Takes Two
At least so far, but it looks as if they may pick up a third very shortly. At this point, they have already picked up Forward Lukasz Piszczek on a free transfer from Hertha Berlin, and Goalkeeper Mitchell Langerack from Melbourne Victory of the Australian League.

They also seem close to signing 21 year old Striker Robert Lewandowski from Polish side Lech Poznan, and have apparently agreed to terms with him, but they are currently in negotiations with the Polish side over a transfer fee.

Jiri Stajner Terminates Contract with Hannover 96

Jiri Stajner has terminated his contract with immediate effect in order to end his career at home in the Czech Republic. Stajner played a big part in helping Hannover avoid relegation last season, but the 33-year-old Striker decided to terminate his contract early (he still had one year remaining) in order to finish his career in his homeland.

Stajner made a total of 229 appearances for the Hannover, and scored 42 goals including the equalizer in the 2-2 draw with Borussia M’gladbach which helped to ensure they remained in the top flight.

Transfer rumours are still flying, and more are sure to come quickly. We may see an entirely new Bundesliga next season!

The 4 goals this game came from Arjen Robben, Ivica Olic, Franck Ribery and Bastian Schweinsteiger, and it proved to be just a walk in the park. Once Torsten Frings received a Red Card in the second half, there was no doubt as to how the game would end up.

As Captain Mark van Bommel lifted the trophy, all eyes shifted to the match against Inter Milan in the final of the UEFA Champions League.

Attendance: 72,954