Raúl's omission from the Spain squad for the weekend's game against Denmark sparked the media into a frenzy that eventually saw coach Luis Aragonés lose his cool. The rant that ensued was caught on film as the Spanish trainer politely asked how many trophies the national team had won with the striker in the side. Madrid were furious and registered a formal complaint to the RFEF, which has led to a speeding up of the idea to pay tribute to Raúl for playing 100 matches for the national team. On the face of it, the plan is a good one, but it now appears to be a way in which to placate Madrid and Salgado thinks it is being done at the wrong time. "I thought players received a homage when they have already retired," he said. "I honestly believe Raúl still has many years ahead of him as a professional."
Raul Gonzalez threatened to leave Real Madrid after a recent defeat. Club president Ramon Calderon said the captain told him he was "suffering a lot" and "couldn't sleep" following Madrid's 1-0 loss at Getafe on Oct. 14, the club's first league defeat of the season.
"He said if the situation continued he would leave and free the club from paying the salary of his long contract," Calderon told news agency Efe in an interview published on Tuesday. Raul, who last won a trophy with Madrid in 2003, has enjoyed an improvement since that defeat.
Four days later, he scored in Madrid's 4-1 Champions League victory over Steaua Bucharest and added another in Sunday's 2-0 win over FC Barcelona. The 29-year-old striker has had an up-and-down season.
He ended an 11-month goal drought for Madrid and established himself as the Champions League's all-time scoring leader with 54 goals, but was dropped from the Spain team for the first time in 10 years.
Calderon said Madrid would offer to host Spain's European Championship qualifier against Denmark on March 24 on one condition.
"If Raul's not there, we won't lend them the stadium," Calderon said. Madrid is fourth in the Spanish league with 14 points from seven games, two fewer than leader Barcelona.
Madrid ace has found the net 44 times for Spain since his debut a decade ago and had hoped to grab a landmark goal against Iceland.
Raul told Marca: "A hundred games in the shirt of Spain is something to be very proud and happy about.
"I am happy to have reached that figure. It is a very important achievement.
"To have played for the national team so many times shows I have been working hard.
"It is a shame the match did not turn out as we'd hoped. It was tough for us. We gave it everything.
"But the most important thing is that qualifying for Euro 2008 starts in 15 days and we have a good feeling about this."
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