Real Madrid

Raúl González, Real Madrid’s captain, was one of the most acclaimed players upon the team’s landing in Colombia. During the press conference he thanked the supporters for the warmth with which the squad was welcomed.

How did the city of Bogotá greet you?
I am very grateful for the affection we’ve received from Bogotá’s citizens since the moment we arrived. We were all incredibly surprised after seeing the stands so crowded at the training session. Hopefully there will be a great party atmosphere during the game. We want to pay the fans back for their affection with a good performance.

Were you aware of how highly anticipated the match has been here?
We were, and I have Colombian friends who told me how many devoted Real Madrid fans there were here. However, you don’t quite believe it until you see it.

Would you accept a big offer to end your career at any other club?
It’s hard to say, because the best offer I’m getting is to stay at Real Madrid, and it’s where I feel happy. There are many appealing championships in South America, but I only see myself wearing Real Madrid’s shirt. My dream is to end my career at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

What are your expectations for the game against Independiente Santa Fé?
It is going to be an important event for them, so we hope it turns out to be a challenging game. I’m sure they will be very motivated. We’re still not completely charged up; the trip has been long, but even so, we plan to fight to keep possession and hopefully there will be many goals.

What do you think of Cristiano Ronaldo’s possible signing?
He already said he’s not coming, there’s nothing more to say about it. This is a great team, both on a personal and professional level, therefore capable of achieving all of our goals.