Raul out of United clash after surgery

Real Madrid striker Raul was undergoing surgery for acute appendicitis in a Madrid clinic on Monday, ruling him out of this week's Champions League quarter-final second leg away to Manchester United.

The Spanish club said they would make a statement on the player's condition after the operation had been completed.

"I'm not a doctor, but he won't be playing on Wednesday," a spokesman for Real told Reuters.

Real's medical chief Alfonso del Corral was carrying out the operation, the club said.

Real are due to fly to Manchester on Tuesday morning ahead of Wednesday's second leg, when United will be looking to overturn a 3-1 deficit.

Raul, the leading scorer in the history of the Champions League, scored two of Real's three goals and was described by United manager Alex Ferguson as the world's best player.

"Real buy these big players like Figo, Zidane and Ronaldo but I think the best player in the world is Raul," Ferguson swooned after the Spaniard's virtuoso display at the Bernabeu.

The striker also produced a match-winning display the last time the two sides met at Old Trafford three years ago, Raul scoring twice in as 3-2 Real win.