Raul hopes galactico disappears with Perez's exit
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-01 09:09

MADRID, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Real Madrid captain Raul hopes the term galactico disappears from use after Florentino Perez resigned as the club's president on Monday.

"This word has caused the club more damage over the last few years than anything else," Raul told a news conference on Tuesday. "I hope this word will go away now. I hope the people see us from now on as sportsmen and as professionals.

"We are representing an important club with millions of fans and will try to give our all for them."

Galactico, which loosely means superstar, has been used to describe the high-profile players Perez lured to the club during his six-year reign.

Real spent more than 400 million euros ($473.8 million) on players such as Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham as they went in pursuit of silverware.

After initial success, including winning the Primera Liga title in 2001 and 2003 and the Champions League in 2002, the policy has shown signs of undermining unity and balance in the squad as other players appeared to be sidelined.

Real have not lifted a major trophy for 2-1/2 seasons.

They are 10 points behind leaders Barcelona in the league, out of the King's Cup and 1-0 down to Arsenal from the first leg of their Champions League first knockout round tie.