Raul Gonzalez on Monday confirmed his departure from Real Madrid where he has spent almost his entire career.

The official Real Madrid website has confirmed a press conference in which the club captain will announce his departure after 16 seasons in the first team squad, during which he won six Primera Liga titles, three Champions League titles and two Intercontinental Cups.

Raul is the club's record goalscorer with 323 goals in a total of 741 appearances and although the 33-year-old had lost protagonism in recent seasons with the arrival of players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain, he still made 30 appearances in the BBVA Primera Liga last season, scoring five goals.

The arrival of Jose Mourinho as Real Madrid coach has helped provoke Raul's departure as Mourinho looks to mould a side in his image with younger players.

Raul made his Real Madrid debut as a 17-year-old in a league game away to Zaragoza in October 1994. Ironically his last goal as a Real Madrid player arrived last April in Zaragoza's La Romareda Stadium.

Raul is likely to announce his decision to sign for German club Schalke 04.