- Big blow for the World Cup star just before the Paris Games
- He had been chosen on the coach’s squad for the Olympic Games.
- “Football doesn’t always go as planned”
Hayley Raso has revealed that football giants Real Madrid dropped her in a shock move after spending two seasons with the Spanish club.
The Matildas star, 29, is now looking for a new team after giving her fans the sad news in an Instagram post on Monday.
Raso made history as the first Australian to play for the world-famous club and has been cut as a result of limits on the number of foreign players who can star in Spain’s top-flight women’s league.
“What an honor it has been to wear the white shirt,” Raso wrote on social media.
Hayley Raso says goodbye to Real Madrid after starring in 28 games for the Spanish club
The Matildas star, 29 (pictured, playing for Real last month) revealed the sad news in an Instagram post, saying he “could never have dreamed” of playing for the famous team.
‘Thank you @realmadridfem, to my teammates, to the squad, to the club and to the fans who welcomed me with open arms. I will continue to hold you all in my heart.
‘This little Australian girl could never have dreamed of this.
“In saying that, I have learned in my career that football doesn’t always work out as planned… it’s time for me to move on to a new adventure.”
‘I will always be supporting from afar. But the most important thing is that I will carry with me all my life the friendships I have made.
‘Many thanks for everything. Hala Madrid, always (Thank you very much for everything. Let’s go Madrid always).’
Raso had previously played for Everton and Manchester City in England, as well as starring for Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar.
Raso (pictured playing for the Matildas against China this month) now needs a new team.
He started in 10 of his 28 games for Real, scoring four goals and adding four goal assists.
He will be one of the Paris Matildas’ biggest talents after joining coach Tony Gustavsson’s squad earlier this month.
With the team already without captain Sam Kerr due to injury, Raso emerges as one of the team’s key players as they also worry about the fitness of Katrina Gorry and forward Caitlin Foord.
The Queenslander stood out for the Matildas at last year’s World Cup and will once again feature prominently in Paris, where the Australians begin their campaign against giants Germany on July 25.
The Queenslander (pictured right playing against China) will be one of Australia’s most important players at the Paris Olympics next month.
The Matildas will effectively be in each other’s pockets as they work through an arduous training camp.
Australia can play two friendlies in the international window between July 8 and 16 and should secure at least one, depending on the quality of the opponents available.
Gustavsson admitted that could mean the Matildas would not be in top form during those friendlies, but he has a bigger picture in mind.
“It’s going to be a three-week camp where it’s going to be very, very intense,” he said.
‘It will be double or triple sessions, gym sessions, running sessions, football sessions to make sure we peak on July 25.
