Raúl’s good work as boss of Castilla, Real Madrid’s ‘B’ team, hasn’t gone unnoticed. He’s caught the eye of several clubs in Europe’s major leagues.

Leeds have shown a particular interest. After sacking head coach Jesse Marsch earlier in February, the English club approached the Spaniard about the job.

German sides Frankfurt and Schalke are also keen. After learning the ropes in charge of sides lower down Madrid’s youth ranks, Raúl has confirmed his coaching talents this season.

Although Raúl is attracting interest, his - and Madrid’s - stance remains clear: now isn’t the time for him to leave. His dream is to coach the first team.

Castilla are having a great season. After 22 games, they’re in a promotion playoff spot in the Primera RFEF, the third tier of Spain’s league pyramid.

Castilla haven’t lost for more than four months. Their last defeat was on 2 October. Since then, they’ve won nine games and drawn eight.

Raúl has implemented a flexible tactical approach, creating a team capable of playing a range of systems. Unlike at other clubs, they don’t have to follow the first team’s philosophy.

However, Raúl and his backroom team have a close working relationship with Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti and his coaching staff. They talk daily.

A focus on mental preparation is integral to Raúl’s coaching methods. His Castilla players get expert support from a sports psychology team.

Castilla's success is no fluke. To get the best out of their players, the coaches closely monitor their weight, body-fat levels, and key performance indicators.