According to ESPN, the New York Cosmos have completed the signing of Spanish legend Raul.
Reports of Raul’s signing with the Cosmos have been circling for weeks and now, according to a ‘source’ of Jeff Carlisle, the former Real Madrid striker has inked a multi-year contract with the NASL club.
“The deal’s done -- the Cosmos have signed Raul to a multi-year contract, pending his physical,” the source said. “The team’s likely to announce it formally in the next day or two.”
Raul will begin playing with the club in the spring of 2015 and will also take on an advisory role with the youth academy, which he will lead on a full-time basis upon retirement.
Upon hearing news of Raul’s signing with the Cosmos common reaction throughout the country was: Does Raul know the Cosmos aren’t in MLS?
With the news of his involvement in the youth academy - where he’s been tasked with establishing training guidelines as well as helping guide the academy’s overall structure - the answer to the above question is quite clearly, yes, Raul is well aware that the Cosmos are a NASL side. And that works for him because it checks the two most important boxes for his future: 1) to be part of a quality professional soccer club and 2) to raise his family in the greater New York City area.
Currently 37-years-old, Raul spent 16 years with Real Madrid scoring 323 goals in 738 appearances while securing six La Liga titles, three Champions League trophies, and a pair of league cups. On the national side, Raul racked up 102 caps for Spain, scoring 44 goals. Suffice to say, his presence with the Cosmos will be a major boost and a nice supplement to fellow former Spanish National Team player, Marcos Senna.