Former Real Madrid star Raul to sign for Qatar club Al Sadd

The 34-year-old striker, who is leaving Schalke, will be unveiled at a news conference later today.

Raul has been an inspiration at German side Schalke. Patrik Stollarz / AFP

BERLIN // Raul, the Spanish striker, will play for Qatar side Al Sadd next season after switching to the Middle East from German league side Schalke, the Qatari club confirmed on their website.

The 34-year-old former Real Madrid star announced last month he would be leaving Schalke at the end of the season after two seasons in Gelsenkirchen.

At the time, he would only say his destination was "outside of Europe", but Al Sadd announced on their website that he will be their player for the 2012/13 campaign. Raul is expected to be unveiled at a news conference later today.

Raul arrived in Germany in the summer of 2010 after averaging close on a goal every two games in 741 appearances with Real, with whom he won three Champions League titles.

With Schalke he has netted 27 times in 63 league appearances and 33 times in all – including his Champions League efforts.

Earlier this season he scored his 400th career goal in a 4-0 home romp over Wolfsburg.

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