Marca reports that Castilla’s head coach is weighing an offer from Villarreal to step into Quique Setién’s role on the bench. The move would be a striking switch for a coach who has spent years shaping young talent in Madrid’s system.
Leaving Real Madrid for Villarreal is a significant decision, and it sits at the center of Raúl González Blanco’s current considerations. The Barcelona-based outlet notes that Raúl is evaluating Villarreal’s proposal as a potential successor after Setién’s departure. The Yellow Submarine acted quickly, dismissing Setién on Tuesday, with Miguel Ángel Tena taking the caretaker duties in the interim, while Raúl weighs his next steps.
Raúl’s candidacy would mark a remarkable turn as he enters his fifth season at Castilla, the Madrid club’s reserve squad that narrowly missed promotion to the second tier last season. Yet questions about continuity at Real Madrid loom as director Marco doesn’t speak out and the board weighs its options. Marca reports that Raúl has been approached by Villarreal to assume the managerial post following Setién’s exit.
Real Madrid and Raúl reportedly held initial talks about the situation, a scenario that has rarely played out given Raúl’s long association with the club. In the past, other teams such as Eintracht Frankfurt, Espanyol, and Leeds United explored the possibility of bringing Raúl into their fold, but he repeatedly indicated he would remain with Madrid at that moment. The current moment, however, presents a crossroads that could alter his career trajectory.
Should Raúl accept Villarreal’s challenge, he would inherit a squad led by a captain who would be stepping into big shoes. Álvaro Arbeloa currently leads the Real Madrid Juvenil A setup, and his role could become pivotal if there is a move to promote him within the first team. Conversely, if Raúl stays with Real Madrid, the door remains open for him to assume the responsibilities of Carlo Ancelotti’s coaching staff, whose contract runs through the upcoming summer and could influence his future decisions.
The situation continues to develop as Villarreal weighs its options for the post Setién. In the running for the helm, names such as Julen Lopetegui have been mentioned as potential candidates, though current reporting suggests Lopetegui is unlikely to be chosen. Other coaches like Pacheta or Quique Sánchez Flores are rumored to be in the mix, indicating a broad search by the Yellow Submarine as they aim to stabilize the squad after a sudden leadership change.
As always in Spanish football, the broader implications reach beyond a single club. A move for Raúl would underscore the growing trend of young managers rising through club academies to lead top teams, reflecting a shift in how clubs cultivate leadership from within. The decision could reshape the perception of Castilla’s development path and influence how Real Madrid balances its own talent pipeline with the ambition to compete at the highest levels on both domestic and European stages. Goal provides ongoing updates as the narrative evolves.