Raul is world's best-paid player

Raul has fared better than his country at Euro 2000

Raul Gonzalez, Spain's misfiring star striker, has signed a new deal with Real Madrid which makes him the world's highest-paid footballer.

According to Spanish media reports, Raul will pick up almost £4m a season and any club who hope to buy him will have to lay out more than £100m for his signature.

The 23-year-old's deal will now run until 2005, but outgoing Real Madrid chairman Lorenzo Sanz believes Raul will stay for good:

"Raul will finish his sports career in Real Madrid," he said.

Robert Pires will not be joining Real yet

Sanz's resignation as chairman has meant that Real will have to delay negotiations over the possible transfer of France winger Robert Pires.

"Insurmountable problems have arisen at the last minute and we have to wait until a new administrative council is formed to continue talks," said Sanz.

Real's rivals Barcelona are doing their best to hold on to Luis Figo who is currently one of the hottest properties in world football.

Figo has been strongly linked with Lazio - but Barcelona's caretaker coach Lorenzo Serra Ferrer has announced that Figo "cannot be sold" because he is "an extraordinary player."

Luis Figo is a wanted man

Figo's agent Jose Viega was reported by the Europa news agency as saying that the player had an "80% chance of leaving Barcelona", but the player himself claims to be happy at the club.

"My desire is to remain at Barcelona where I feel good, where my family is happy," he said.

Lazio have apparently agreed to pay the £30m it would take to release Figo from his contract at Barcelona.