Raúl Bravo Sanfélix (born April 14, 1981 in Gandia, Valencia) is a former Real and Spanish football defender who currently plays for Olympiacos FC.
Club Career
After playing in his early years with two local outfits, Raúl Bravo joined Real Madrid’s youth system at 16. He was subsequently part of the Junior A side, and played for them two more seasons before arriving at the C team, then in the fourth division, moving to Real Madrid Castilla, in Segunda División B, for 2001–02.
International call-ups of some players in the first team gave him the chance for a top flight debut against Athletic de Bilbao, on October 6, 2001 at the Bernabéu (71 minutes in a 2–0 win). Bravo ended up training with the first team, then under Vicente Del Bosque’s management, very often. That eventually led to his permanent stay with the main side, starting in 2002–03.
In January 2003, Bravo served an unsuccessful loan spell at Leeds United. However, during Euro 2004 in which he appeared for Spain, Mick McCarthy, whilst commentating for the BBC, remarked that Bravo looked a different player to the one in his Leeds stint. Roberto Carlos’ presence, however, restricted his playing time in the Real first team.
With a chance to retain UEFA Champions League status, Bravo signed a four-year contract with Olympiacos FC on August 2007, with the transfer fee estimated in the region of €2.3 million, while the player received an annual salary of €1.3 million. In all he had played 77 games for Real Madrid scoring 5 goals.
After having appeared rarely for Olympiakos, Bravo had a short return to Spain in the 2009 January transfer window, moving on loan to league strugglers CD Numancia, having almost no impact in a relegation-ending campaign. He has since returned to Olympiacos.
Xabi Alonso will turn 28 on Wednesday. Real Madrid are set to face FC Zurich at the Bernabeu and the player believes a victory against them would be a great birthday present.
Your birthday is on Wednesday. There couldn’t be a more perfect present than a victory against FC Zurich, right?
A victory against FC Zurich is vital. We want to win the match and I hope it gets us a ticket to the Last 16. It would be a nice birthday present.
They don’t have much standing in Europe, but they proved they can defeat any team when they played at San Siro.
Nowadays any team can defeat you if you don’t do your best. The Swiss surprised Milan by defeating them 1-0 in Italy. We will suffer if we fail to be in top form.
You defeated them 5-2 in Switzerland. I guess the match at the Bernabeu will be similar; Real Madrid will dominate from the start and Zurich will try to capitalise on counterattacks and set pieces.
We hope to control the game. Scoring an early goal will be key to prevent them from growing confident. We must take things slowly and be cautious.
What is the team’s goal in the group stage?
We want to reach the Last 16. It would be even better to do so as group leaders. We depend on Milan because they’ve won the goal average against us. We’ll have to wait and see.
What do you think will happen in the group’s other game?
Marseille are a very good team and I believe the match will be even. Marseille have improved considerably lately and I wouldn’t rule out a surprise on their part at San Siro.
What’s better for Real Madrid, Milan’s victory, a draw or Marseille’s victory?
I’d prefer to seal our pass to the next round, even if it means both Milan and ourselves win our home games. I want to have the peace of mind of being in the Last 16. We’ll play for the leadership in the last match.
Manuel Pellegrini only thinks about tomorrow’s match against FC Zurich.
You must be happy – all your men are available save for Guti.
That’s right. Practically all my men experience no physical problems save for Guti, which allows me to try out different options in important games.
Why wasn’t Guti present in your speech prior to training?
He is sick with flu and has a fever.
Does he have normal flu or H1N1?
You have to ask the doctor that.
Will tonight’s results affect Barcelona’s performance on Sunday? What would you like tonight’s result to be?
I don’t follow what happens to Barcelona. That only interests them. We have an important match against Zurich coming up and we must focus on it.
How much do you value being group leaders?
I think it is important, but not decisive. I’d prefer to play the return leg of the Last 16 at home, but I don’t think it’s that important or that it may guarantee us reaching the next round.
Would you prefer Cristinano Ronaldo to play only in the first half or the entire game?
Cristiano Ronaldo has been doing well in the latest training sessions. He’s made the squad list and we’ll see what he can do tomorrow.
How important is his return to the team?
It is impossible not to miss a player of Cristiano Ronaldo’s quality. He is one of the best players in the world, but you can’t depend solely on one player. I believe the team has responded well to his absence.
Will you save some players’ efforts tomorrow to use them in Barcelona?
We only have one game on our minds, that against Zurich tomorrow. We will try to win to make it to the Last 16. We’ll start thinking about Barcelona after the game.
Gonzalo Higuain has earned a place on the latest starting lineups thanks to his great performances and important goals. The player talked about tomorrow’s match against FC Zurich and about this weekend’s Clasico at Camp Nou.
Everyone’s thinking about the match at Camp Nou, but you first have to defeat Zurich tomorrow…
People are making too much of the match against Barcelona, but tomorrow’s game is also important. We must focus on the Champions League and, after we do a good job in said competition, think about Barcelona.
Do you feel ready to play 90 minutes in both games?
A footballer wants to play all the time. I will be very happy if I am lucky enough to play in both games. It would be a privilege and I would try to do my best.
How would you want the Barcelona-Inter Milan match to end?
My team-mates and I only think about Real Madrid. We want to earn a good result and avoid complicating our situation.
What does Cristiano Ronaldo bring to the team?
He is a very unbalancing player and we are delighted about his recovery at this stage. He is very important to the team.
Does the coach ususally ask you to play closer to the right wing?
I am constantly swapping my position with Kaka and Karim… It depends on each game. I am a striker and the coach will decide how to use me once Cristiano returns.
Will his return hurt you on a personal level?
On the contrary. Great players help teams to play better. He is a great footballer and I hope he helps us as much as he can.
How did you bump into Guti in training?
We simply collided during training. It was a shame. We talked about it and there’s no problems between us.
How much spectacle will the Clasico lose if Messi doesn’t play?
I don’t know. I belong to this club and just look at what happens on my team. We are anxious to play at Camp Nou. A victory there would be very important for us. Nevertheless, the best Clasico’s are those which have the teams’ best players on the pitch.
There isn’t much to say except for a huge WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO to welcome back Cristiano Ronaldo who has been missing all our games since Matchday 2 at home against Marseille when he picked up a brace. We face Zurich tomorrow night at 20:45 CET at the Bernabeu on a Champions League matchday that could well see us storm into the knock stages IF things happen as they should. Realmadrid.com summed it up well in one of its article. It read:
With only two matches to go before the group stage of the Champions League comes to a close, the four teams that comprise Group C are alive and kicking. Milan and Real Madrid have the odds in their favor, but Zurich and Marseille still haven’t had the last word.
IF REAL MADRID DEFEAT F.C. ZURICH…
- And Milan beat Olympique de Marseille, Real Madrid and the Italian side go through and will play for the top spot in the final matchday.
- And Milan and Marseille draw, Real Madrid will take sole possession of first place (10 pts) and have a two point lead over the Italian team and three over the French. None of the top three teams will have clinched a berth in the Top 16. A draw at OM in Matchday 6 would suffice for the Whites, but the top spot still isn’t assured.
- And OM win in Milan, the Madridistas would continue atop Group C with 10 points, but there would be some major changes. OM would be second with nine points and Milan third with seven. Zurich, meanwhile, would be eliminated. All Real Madrid would need to finish atop Group C is a draw at OM in Matchday 6.
IF REAL MADRID AND F.C. ZURICH DRAW…
- And Milan beat OM, the Italian side clinches a berth in the Top 16 but not as the top seed. Real Madrid would be second with eight points and OM third with six. The Whites and Olympique will play for all the marbles in Marseille, but the Whites only need a draw to go through. FC Zurich would be eliminated but may have a chance to move into the Europa League.
- And Milan and OM draw, not much changes and Milan and Real Madrid would be level at eight points and OM would be sitting on one less. With one match to play, the three teams would play for a spot in the Top 16 as well as the top seed. A draw in Marseille would assure Real Madrid a berth in the next round.
- And OM win in Milan, Real Madrid would remain second with eight points, but OM (eight points) and Milan (seven points) would swap positions. The Madridistas would need to win in Marseille to control their own destiny, but a draw would also suffice if Milan do not win in Zurich.
IF F.C. ZURICH WIN AT THE BERNABEU…
- And Milan defeat OM, the Italians finish as the top seed in Group C with ten points. Real Madrid (seven points), OM and Zurich (six points each) would play for the second spot in the last round of matches. A victory in Marseille would see Real Madrid go through, while a draw would suffice as long as Zurich does not defeat Milan.
- And Milan and OM draw, nothing would change in the table and the final matchday will decide the final standings. Milan would be in first with eight points, followed by Real Madrid and Marseille with seven each and Zurich with six. Every team will still be alive heading into Matchday 6 and they will all have a chance to finish as the top seed. In order to control their own destiny and ensure a spot in the Last 16, Real Madrid must win in Marseille.
- And Marseille win in Milan, The French side would take over the top spot with nine points. Milan and Real Madrid would be in second and third, respectively with seven points apiece. Zurich would be fourth with six. In order to reach the Last 16, Real Madrid must win in Marseille in the final matchday.
So we know all the possibilities. Its up to the players now to perform.
#1
Ever since Fernando Amorebieta did the famous big boot on Messi, Madridistas have been in love with the Basque defender. This is no secret. But what has been kept a secret here is the fact that Real Madrid are now trying to sign the defender from Athletic Bilbao despite the fact that we have enough kick boxers on our side. A source close to the club’s management told a source close to a friend of another close friend of mine that:
Amorebieta wants to hang up his boots in Madrid. Real want him and he wants Real more.
I trust my source. But I don’t trust his. So lets see.
Source: A source close to the club’s management told a source close to a friend of another close friend of mine.
Degree of genuinity: 0.0
#2
Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Ruud van Nistelrooy on loan in the January transfer window, according to the Sunday Mirror.
The Dutchman has spoken recently of his desire to leave the Bernabeu, unless he can force his way back into the first team, as he wants to play his way back into the Dutch squad for next summer’s World Cup. As that looks unlikely he could be set for a move in January, with Liverpool reportedly interested in signing the 33-year-old. The tabloid claims manager Rafael Benitez is keen to add an extra striker to the ranks, and could take the Dutchman on loan until the end of the season.
The report adds that whilst both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City are also interested in him, he would prefer a move to Anfield, despite his strong connections with Manchester United.
Source: The Sunday Mirror
Degree of genuinity: 5.0
Alvaro Arbeloa assured that Real Madrid is only concerned about Wednesday’s match against Zurich and not looking ahead to the Clasico during today’s press conference.
How does your knee feel?
It was just a knock and nothing to worry about.
How can you explain the fact that Real Madrid is top without having played well?
A lot is demanded of this Real Madrid through this project. We know we aren’t playing our best football and we accept all the criticism, but we are improving and working hard to ensure that we play well from start to finish.
How would you like to see Barcelona perform against Inter? What suits Real Madrid?
I am honestly not that worried about what Barcelona do. I care more about how we perform against Zurich. We had a tough match against Racing after a stoppage for international matches and little time to recover and train. I am mostly concerned about the Zurich match.
Is this the best time for the Clasico to be played?
I think it comes at a time when we are confident because of our recent improvement since that terrible week we had. We demand more of ourselves and we believe we are on the right track, so it is a good week to play the match.
Is the Zurich match a major hurdle heading into the Clasico?
You get used to playing every three days. We will have three days to prepare for Barcelona after the Zurich game, which we think is enough.
Will you play as left back in the Camp Nou, where you will be in charge of slowing Messi down?
I don’t know if I will play, or if I will even play in that position. I think Messi will be available. It doesn’t matter whether I play as left back or in another position because Barcelona have top class players. I have no doubts that Messi will play.
Kaka was Sunday’s special guest on El Tirachinas of Spanish radio’s Cadena Cope, where he discussed almost every aspect of his career.
Early days:
I began playing when I was eight. I was born in the capital and moved to Sao Paulo. The teacher there called my mom to tell her that I had special talents and that I was a lot different from the other kids. My mom took me to a football academy and one year later I signed for Sao Paulo.
The academy there has built an amazing training center. There are many fields and many kids. The Sao Paulo academy is the most productive in Brazil.
Football is a huge sacrifice. I love this sport, but it is hard to keep up with friends because you need to be disciplined.
I was close to becoming a professional at 16 or 17. I trained in the morning and afternoon and went to school at night. I never lost the desire to play even though there were some rough moments. When I was 15 I had the body of a 13-year old because of bone problems, but I never gave up.
Rai was my idol and role model. I always like Zidane and Ronaldo. I never played with Rai or Zidane, but I would have loved to. Ronaldo and Rivaldo treated me very well with the national team. I will always be grateful to Ronaldo and Cafu.
Italy:
A player in Brazil is always thinking about Europe. This is where the best players and teams are. I had a lot of offers, but the best came from Milan.
I stayed in a hotel my first night. I then met the players I used to play with on the PlayStation and I realized just how important a step I had taken.
I didn’t have a hard time adjusting thanks to the seven Brazilians already playing there. I have a great relationship with Shevchenko. I spent the best time of his career playing by his side.
Maldini is the perfect example of a footballer. He is the first to show up to training and the last to leave. He is like Raul: an example of loyalty and motivation. They are two great leaders.
The Calcio isn’t as strong as it used to be before the corruption cases. The tax matter also plays a role. Football there is very tactical and it taught me a lot, but I have a lot more fun now.
Raul Albiol has recovered from his injury and is training with his team-mates. The defender said the team only thinks about the match against FC Zurich.
How do you feel from your injury?
I feel fine and I’m completely recovered because the injury was never serious. I’m training with my team-mates without experiencning any problems, which is always important.
What does the team need to do to thrill the fans?
We failed to sentence the match against Racing. They stayed alive until the very end because we only scored one goal. We are nevertheless leaders and we’ve also improved. We will win with greater ease if we continue to improve.
You are leaders, but Pellegrini said yesterday that the team’s performance was neither good nor bad.
We’ve had a good run in La Liga. Our numbers show this. We’ve also done well in the Champions League despite dropping three points against Milan. The only thing we can really be criticised for is our performance in the Copa del Rey.
It seems Messi won’t be fit to play in the Clasico…
Someone else’s injury never makes me happy. We may benefit from it because he is an essential player for Barcelona and one of the best in the world, but Barça have enough good players to cover his absence. We must play well in order to win there.
Barcelona may have lost the leadership, but they play better together than you do.
They’ve been playing very well for a year. We’ve just begun a new era and it is always hard to adapt. The important thing is to be at the top of the table. We know we must improve our game. Injured players will return to the team shortly and we hope to keep up our good results.
#1
The first rumor involves Wolfsburg’s German International Marcel Schäfer. The defender who plays left back for both club and country is being as the solution to Real’s problems and is thus being rumored that Real will sign the player come January. And even though Schäfer, who is just 25, will be cup tied Real consider him to as the missing entity that has made them not click as well eternal rivals Barcelona. And although Marcelo has been impressive for Real this season, his capability as a defender is questionable. And above all according to Marca, Real rate Schafer highly.
It is to be noted that Schäfer has also been linked with Inter Milan and is emerging as a January target for Real as their pursuit of Fiorentina defender Juan Manuel Vargas begins to fizzle out.
Source: Goal.com
Degree of Genuineness: 5.5
#2
#2 has got a lot to do with #1. Wolfsburg’s Bosnian striker Edin Džeko is all set to leave the Volkswagen Arena come January if club mate and close friend Marcel Schäfer leaves the club as rumored. The former FK Željezničar, FK Teplice and FK Ústí nad Labem striker is ready to offer himself to the top clubs in Europe and especially to Real Madrid if that is where Marcel is heading. Real though are being hesitant here as they already have enough strikers on board. But Džeko though is being resilient here insisting that he is even ready to play for Castilla if that is what it takes to keep in touch with Marcel. According to a Wolfsburg based magazine, Džekois rumored to have said:
If he (Schäfer) goes, I go.
As flattering as his love… erm.. I mean friendship is it will be tough for Real to be able to pay Džeko’s wages. But the question is, is that the only problem?
Source: Miscellaneous
Degree of Genuineness: -1
Just another Madridista