Raul Hopes to Make his Comeback In March
"I'm happy and satisfied because treatment is going to plan," said Raul, who suffered the injury during Real's encounter with Barcelona on November 19.
"There's no fixed date for my return. The most important thing is that I feel good. I haven't yet started to kick a ball. I hope to be back in around one month," he dded.
"I hope to help Real Madid for the last three months of competition."
Zidane NOT Quitting after World Cup
Real Madrid midfielder Zinedine Zidane denied that he will retire from soccer after this year’s World Cup. Spanish press reports said that the 33-year-old French international told Madrid president Florentino Perez that he planned to quit soccer after the World Cup finals, which starts from June 9.
“That’s not the case, but over here these type of little things are normal to fill the pages of newspapers,” Zidane told Canal Plus television station yesterday. “You shouldn’t attach too much importance to it. I let others talk and concentrate on what I have to do.”
Soccer-Injuries deplete Real squad for Cup match against Bilbao
A spate of injuries has depleted Real Madrid's squad ahead of their King's Cup last-16 second leg match against Athletic Bilbao in the Bernabeu tomorrow.
Italy striker Antonio Cassano, who joined Real from AS Roma last week, is still working on a special training plan to regain fitness and recover from a thigh strain.
First-choice strike pairing Raul and Ronaldo are both sidelined, with knee and calf injuries respectively.
England defender Jonathan Woodgate has a calf strain and drops out of the squad, while Pablo Garcia, Roberto Carlos and Francisco Pavon are also injured.
With league leaders Barcelona 13 points ahead of sixth-placed Real in La Liga, and a complicated draw with Arsenal in the Champions League next month, the Cup is a good chance for Real to win some silverware this season.
Real hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg, thanks to David Beckham's goal in San Mames.
Cicinho turned down United
The 25-year-old put pen-to-paper on a five-year deal at the Bernabeu just before Christmas, with Real paying Sao Paulo £2.8million for his services.
The Brazilian full-back was linked with a move to a number of top European sides and United were keen to take him as cover for Gary Neville.
However, the Brazil international defender confessed that he only had eyes for Real, despite a trip to see Old Trafford and the club's other facilities.
He said: "I got a call from United while I was in Italy arranging my EU passport. They flew me to Manchester and I met the coach and saw the training ground and the stadium.
"But we couldn't reach an agreement owing to my desire to play for Real Madrid," he added to the Daily Star.
Cassano joins Real Madrid
Real Madrid has said it had agreed to contract terms with AS Roma striker Antonio Cassano, making him only the second Italian to ever play for the 29-time Spanish league champion.
Cassano travelled to Madrid on Tuesday and went immediately to the Santiago Bernabeu stadium to complete negotiations for the transfer. He is expected to sign with the club through 2010.
Financial details of the deal were not released, but the leading Cadena SER radio station said the transfer fee was about euro6 million ($7.2 million).
In a statement, Real Madrid said Cassano would have a medical examination on Wednesday before being formally presented as the club's latest signing.
Cassano is first Italian to play for the nine-time European club champion since Christian Panucci completed a three-year stay in 1999.
"It's the best club in the world and we can win everything," the player told Real Madrid TV.
Expired contract
The club reportedly decided to acquire Cassano as an emergency replacement for team captain Raul Gonzalez, who will be out for several months because of an injury to his left knee sustained in a 3-0 loss to FC Barcelona in November.
Cassano was one of Italy's most expensive transfers four years ago when Roma paid Bari about euro28 million ($33.5 million). The considerably lower fee was due mainly to Cassano's contract expiring in June.
Admired for his talent but often criticised for his attitude, Cassano has been in dispute all season with Roma.
