Villarreal Chooses Pacheta as New Manager Amid Heavy Links to Real Madrid’s Raul

• Villarreal recently sacked manager Quique Setien
• Real Madrid Legend Raul Gonzalez was linked with the vacant managerial role
• The La Liga club have opted to sign another manager despite the heavy links to Raul

Villarreal took the headlines, stunning many fans of the Spanish La Liga when it announced the sacking of 64-year-old Quique Setien just four games into the new season.

The decision, which wasn’t without a flurry of reactions from fans, was reported to be spurred by Setien’s sour relationship with the team’s veterans, including Pepe Reina and Raul Albiol, as well as the manager’s dispassionate reactions to the team’s defeat.

The club from Castellon, however, wasted little time in drawing a shortlist of potential replacements for their former manager.

According to reports from Marca, the shortlist of the Yellow Submarines included a host of names, including Julen Lopetegui, Rojo Pacheta and Real Madrid’s Raul Gonzalez, who was highly reported to be the most preferred option per Football Espana.

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However, in quite a surprising turn of events, the La Liga club opted for another candidate – Jose Rojo Martín, ‘Pacheta’, despite the heavy links to Raul.

Villarreal opts against signing Raul

The manager of Real Madrid Castilla appeared to be on his way out of the Spanish capital after a four-year tenure leading the club's B team. This development followed a significant conversation with the club, and negotiations with Villarreal owner Fernando Roig were imminent.

However, according to the latest reports from Cadena Ser, Villarreal has chosen to proceed with the signing of Pacheta. The primary reason for this decision is Pacheta's extensive 14-year managerial experience, with his most recent stint being in charge of the now-relegated Real Valladolid.

Pacheta, who has previously guided both Elche and SD Huesca to promotion, is expected to be officially announced as the new manager of the Yellow Submarines later today, as reported by the Spanish outlet.

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Raul reveals football’s best strikers

Earlier, Sports Brief reported Real Madrid legend Raul has weighed in on Benzema and Lewandowski as he claims both players are two of the best strikers in the world currently.

With Lewandowski’s arrival in Spain, the duo get to battle it out against each other to be not only the best striker in La Liga - but also the best in the world.

Lewandowski and Benzema will finally get to face off against each other when Real Madrid and Barcelona contest the first El Clasico of the season.