Schalke omits Raul against Helsinki

BERLIN (AP)—Raul Gonzalez did not travel with Schalke on Wednesday for the Bundesliga side’s Europa League playoff at HJK Helsinki, sparking further speculation about the Spanish striker’s future.

Raul turned down a move to Premier League side Blackburn on Tuesday, one day after Schalke received an official offer for the 34-year-old former Real Madrid striker.

Schalke spokesman Thomas Spiegel told Kicker magazine Wednesday that Raul was being rested for Sunday’s league game at Mainz, and that his omission from the traveling party to Finland had nothing to do with any planned transfer.

Raul—who has a contract with Schalke until 2012—would be cup-tied in European competition if he played for the German side against HJK Helsinki on Thursday.