Newly promoted Pisa SC visit the Diego Maradona Stadium on Monday. A meeting where Raul Albiol simply had to be; returning to the city he fell in love with, where he was a key figure, and which has now led him to experience one last adventure in Italian football.

Because it made perfect sense for Albiol's footballing career to come to an end in Villarreal. But he wanted to indulge himself with one more season before hanging up his boots, in which he could once again enjoy the 'calcio'. Enjoy its passion and madness. And also enjoy San Paolo, Napoli, where he is so loved.

Albiol, a European and world champion, played for six seasons with the Partenopei. He arrived in 2013 after leaving Real Madrid and left in 2019 for Villarreal as one of the captains after 237 matches. 'Uno di noi' for the Neapolitan 'tifosi'.

Last week he was already included in the squad against Udinese, but this Monday he will not get any minutes yet. His coach, the legendary former striker Alberto Gilardino, praised the importance of having the Spaniard in the group and explained in a press conference that physically he still needs time to reappear.

"Raul is a champion in every sense of the word, even as a person. He helps everyone and has integrated very well into the group. However, I have to manage him: he has just arrived and I don't want to risk an injury. We will wait for his physical condition to improve," he said.

During the week, the 40-year-old centre-back fondly recalled his time at San Paolo. "For me, returning to Napoli is a great emotion because I felt at home there," he said. That adventure encouraged him to return to Italy before bringing his professional career to a close: "I am a football fanatic and I came to Pisa SC to finish my career in Italy, having also had the opportunity to appreciate the city where I want to leave a good memory with the fans".

Raúl Albiol

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