Raul turns down Chelsea chance ( 2003-07-26 14:56) (soccer.net) Chelsea have failed in an
audacious bid to sign Raul from Real Madrid.
The Spain striker was asked whether he would consider a transfer to the
ambitious Premiership club, who inherited instant wealth when Russian
billionaire Roman Abramovich bought up Ken Bates' majority shareholding
recently.
But Raul turned Chelsea down flat, insisting he would never leave the Primera
Liga champions to join the Stamford Bridge outfit.
Raul's agent, Gines Carvajal, told PA: 'FIFA agent Marc Roger, on behalf of
Chelsea, asked me if Raul would be interested in entering negotiations for a
transfer to Chelsea.
'I spoke to Raul, my client, and he said 'no'.
'He's not interested in leaving Real Madrid. Raul's buy-out clause is 180
million euros (?28million).'
Raul, whose current contract expires in June 2005, is currently on tour with
Madrid in the Far East, having landed in Kunming this morning.
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