Tottenham could have signed Raul if not for Daniel Levy decision

A shift from a midtable team to Europa League perennials was the story of the 2000s for Tottenham Hotspur. Before the age of data-led recruitment, deals were completed through scouting and word of mouth. Did you know, were it not for a managerial change, Spurs fans could have enjoyed Raul playing at White Hart Lane?

Tottenham were progressing well up to 2008-09

Tottenham Hotspur were on the up in 2008. They were playing their third consecutive season in the Europa League having won the League Cup earlier in the year.

Spurs had lost Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane to Manchester United and Liverpool and brought in Roman Pavlychenko as a replacement.

The season started poorly under Juande Ramos and further attacking signings were desired to help the team. As it turns out, Ramos had a connection to a player who could have been a signing most fans wouldn’t have dared to dream of.

Spurs could have signed Raul if Juande Ramos had not been sacked

An unearthed 2009 interview from legendary Real Madrid striker Raul has detailed how he nearly ended up joining Tottenham from Los Blancos.

In the interview, Raul said: “Four months ago, Juande (Ramos) and I had a meal with Gines Carvajal, who is our agent and a friend of mine.

“They called me because I like English football and I wanted Juande to tell me about his experience of Tottenham and of The Premier League. He is a football man and speaking with him is a pleasure.”

Unfortunately, Juande Ramos was sacked shortly afterwards due to the poor start of the season and coincidentally ended up joining Real Madrid.

Raul stayed for another year before leaving Madrid at the end of his contract. Rumours once again circulated about whether a transfer to Tottenham may have happened, but instead, Raul chose a move to Schalke in the Bundesliga, never making his desired move to England.

Raul is another ‘what if’ transfer that Spurs fans can dream about

There have been countless transfers over the years that make you wonder what could have been. Rivaldo, Eto’o, Ronaldo and Beckham were all connected to Spurs at one point or another.

Tottenham did go on to bring back Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe under Harry Redknapp. Additionally, the Redknapp era saw Luka Modric establish himself at Spurs and Gareth Bale break onto the scene.

Nevertheless, a year or two of Raul as well makes you wonder if Spurs could have had even more from that period which saw them return to the Champions League.

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