Blackburn Raul bid fails

"Both our coach Ralf Rangnick and my executive committee colleague Peter Peters said they did not want to sell him, and neither did I," team manager Horst Heldt said on the Schalke website.

"Raul has told us that he does not want to leave Schalke and that we should reject Blackburn’s offer. We have already done this.

"We are pleased that Raul wants to help us achieve success in the future."

Schalke had asked the legendary former Spain international to make a decision before the team departed to Finalnd for a Europa League qualifier against HJK Helsinki on Thursday.

Raul, who joined Schalke last season after spending 16 years at Real Madrid, helped his new club win the German Cup and reach the Champions League semi-finals.

He has a contract with the Bundesliga team until next year.

Blackburn started the Premier League season by losing 2-1 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.