Raul hails Schalke experience

By ESPNSTAR.com staff

Raul joined the Gelsenkirchen outfit back in the summer of 2010 after he called time on a 17-year stay with Real Madrid, and was an instant hit at the Veltins-Arena.

The former Spain international formed a lethal partnership up front with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and netted 40 goals in 98 appearances in all competition for Schalke.

And while he ultimately chose not to extend his stay at the club and opted to join Qatari side Al Sadd when his contract expires next month, Raul has called his time in Germany as "one of the best experiences" in his life.

"These two years have been absolutely outstanding," he told S04TV. "I will never forget this, and I've seen, people will not forget me so fast.

"I have enjoyed every game and every trip. I feel really euphoric because everything worked out so great with my team-mates, even with the coaches who gave me their trust. Everything was really wonderful.

"In each game, how [the Schalke fans] live for the club, it's almost like a religion if you want to put it that way. This is really wonderful.

"I want to flatter everyone here. To have played here at S04 is one of the best experiences of my life. For the fans, I have no words to express what they have given me."

Raul also admitted he would never be able to repay the Schalke fans for the affection they showered him with, and refused to rule out a return to a place where he reveals his family enjoyed living in.

"To give back to the fans that love, I would [need to] score a lot more goals," he added. "I felt at home during those two years, as it was with Real Madrid over the 17 years.

"You never know where fate drives you in life. My family and I have lived here very well in any case."

Raul racked up 323 goals in his 741 appearances for Real, and also earned 102 caps for Spain.