According to reports, reaching the first team has become an impossible mission for the Castilla coach. The nomination of Santiago Solari to temporarily lead Real Madrid in the Club World Cup is another blow from the club to Raul. This is not the first setback, but it might be the final one, as Raul’s future, like Ancelotti’s, remains uncertain—especially now that his tenure at the helm of Real Madrid’s second team is nearing its end. Although even a temporary stint with the first team could have been a golden peak and conclusion to his time at La Fabrica, the club does not seem inclined to make such a decision. Raul is not the primary candidate for this role, and names like Solari, Ancelotti, or Xabi Alonso are more prominently considered. A step that Real Madrid had previously taken for Castilla coaches, including Solari and Zidane, is now something they are reluctant to repeat.

This is the latest disappointment for Raul, who has spent seven years at La Fabrica, six of them as Castilla’s head coach with the goal of reaching the first team. From captaincy to coaching, this was his grand dream. But taking over Real Madrid’s bench has become an impossible mission for this Blancos legend. What seemed almost certain at the beginning of his journey at the academy has become complicated and out of reach over time, and Raul has faced numerous disappointments in his quest to realize his dream of managing the first team.

A Promising Start as the “New Zidane”

Raul’s entry into coaching at the academy was stellar. His progression through the youth teams was rapid. He began his career in the 2018-19 season by coaching Cadete B and was promoted to Juvenil B after Alvaro Benito’s departure. The following season, the club directly promoted him to Castilla, effectively leaving him just one step away from the first team. This decision was seen as a “Zidane-like” strategic move to have a strong figure ready in case of a first-team change.

But that final step was never taken, and he was never seriously considered as a first-team option. The first opportunity he had to reach the first team was in the summer of 2021, following Zidane’s second departure. Raul was at his peak, but among the many candidates considered for Real Madrid’s coaching role—including Pochettino, Conte, and Allegri—he was not included, and Real Madrid ultimately opted for Ancelotti’s return. This was the first blow to Raul.

Ancelotti’s Contract Extension and Solari’s Return

The Italian coach’s temporary nature kept Raul’s hopes alive that one day the opportunity would come his way. One mistake from Ancelotti in a season could have increased Raul’s chances. But Ancelotti not only made no mistakes but achieved immense success, leading to a contract extension—another new obstacle for Raul. He had to start from scratch once again to achieve his goal of managing the first team.

After Solari’s return to the club at the end of 2022, Raul faced an unexpected “rival.” Solari, who had previously stepped in for Lopetegui in the 2018-19 season under emergency circumstances, re-entered the White House as academy director and emerged as a likely candidate to lead the first team if needed. Raul was drifting further away from the first team each day.

The Near-Final Blow to Raul’s Aspirations: A Big Name Stands in His Way

Xabi Alonso. With Ancelotti’s tenure ending and after six years of Raul’s presence at Castilla, Florentino Perez has preferred to look outside the club to start a new project. And his chosen candidate is Xabi Alonso, who, like Raul, entered coaching at La Fabrica. Alonso initially took charge of Infantil A, while Raul was responsible for Cadete B. Now, seven years later, Xabi Alonso has overtaken Raul and moved closer to the Real Madrid bench. However, it seems Raul’s good service and affection for Real Madrid have not helped him in this regard.