Schalke forward Raul has revealed he could have been lining up for Manchester United in this week's Champions League semi-final against his current club.

Raul was offered the chance to join United last year when it became clear that his long spell at Real Madrid was over.

The 33-year-old's representatives were in contact with United as he considered his future, but the Spanish forward opted to move to Schalke instead and has played a key role in their surprise run to the last four of the Champions League.

Instead of wearing United's famous red shirt, Raul will run out in Schalke blue for the first leg of the semi-final in Germany on Tuesday.

'There were a couple of possibilities and United was one but the only person who knows just how close, is (Sir) Alex Ferguson,' Raul told the Daily Mail.

'I never spoke to him personally but there were contacts with United.

'Before deciding to come to Schalke I thought about England, where I had a couple of offers.

'I love the footballing culture there, the respect for the game, the atmosphere, the intensity.

'I've been at Old Trafford, Arsenal, at Liverpool watching Fernando Morientes and it's special.

'I fancied the idea. I wanted to try something different. But I've been able to experience that here.'

Raul is the leading goalscorer in Champions League history and one of the icons of his generation, but he is a fan at heart and admits he would love to swap shirts with United winger Ryan Giggs after the first leg.

'He's a great professional who looks after himself. Giggs and (Paul) Scholes are players for whom I have an enormous admiration,” Raul said.

'I would love to swap shirts with Ryan Giggs after the game. It would be a great honour.'