Raul is on the market, you may have noticed. He has already rejected a move to Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, where Steve McClaren is manager, and is now being speculatively linked to Tottenham Hotspur. It seems strange to think of him away from Real Madrid, even at 33. Raul has rewritten the record books during his time with the club: Madrid's youngest player, its most prolific performer (741 official matches) and goalscorer (323 official goals), the leading goal-scorer in the Champions League, and for Spain.
It was presumed Raul would be at Madrid for life, not least because in 2008 he was awarded something called a contract for life, guaranteeing him employment providing he played 30 matches for Madrid the previous season. Last season, Raul played 39. Even when he was finished as a player it was presumed Raul would glide effortlessly into an ambassadorial or coaching role, if he wished.
So what happened? Jose Mourinho happened. He arrived in Madrid and told Raul there was no need to report to the first day of training; or the second; or any of them, for that matter. Sort yourself out with a new club was his message, the Madrid era is over. He said the same to Guti, another member of Castilan royalty, who had been with the club since a teenager. Guti played 517 official matches, but is now on his way to Besiktas in Turkey.
That takes some cojones, as they say in Spain. It is what makes Mourinho a man's manager, the type of boss they would all like to be, if only they had his courage, and ability. Sometimes, throwing out the old guard can win support for a new coach. Not there. If Mourinho fails this season, his disrespect towards the guardians of Madrid's great history will be the first charge laid against him. And he knows it. And he doesn't care. And this is what makes him special.
Raul and Guti have been playing on memory for a while now, but no manager has had the gumption to address the problem.
Some would say Mourinho is deliberately confrontational, but his lack of compromise sets him apart. He could have let Raul's contract run its natural course.
If he did not play this season it would reach its end anyway; but Mourinho does not tolerate passengers, however garlanded. Plus, unshakeable belief in his ability to succeed means Mourinho will risk momentary scorn because he is sure he will make the fans love him eventually.
Nothing in his career suggests otherwise. Remember how Italy was supposed to regard Mourinho and his pragmatic style with disdain, until he won the Champions League and the nation fell at his feet? Perhaps that is why he believes he can be doubly bold at Madrid, having already defeated hated rivals Barcelona, at a time when they were being hailed as one of the greatest club sides in history.
Is it enough to make up for his trashing of club icons? This is the key: Mourinho doesn't care. Lose and he is going to get the bullet anyway. He might as well be fired for his decisions as for those he makes to please. Not that he expects to be fired either. He expects to win the league. Again. This is what makes him the man among managers.