Raul Albiol opens up on Real Madrid exit and missed Champions League glory – ‘Wanted to feel valued’ | OneFootball

Former Real Madrid defender Raul Albiol has opened up about his time at the club, revealing that while he could have stayed and potentially lifted multiple UEFA Champions League titles, he chose to leave in search of regular football.

In an honest reflection during an interview with AS, Albiol shared his experiences at the Santiago Bernabeu, the challenges he faced, and the difficult decision that shaped his career.

Albiol joined Real Madrid in 2009 and spent four seasons with Los Blancos before moving to Napoli in 2013.

His first year was particularly memorable, as it coincided with the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo and the final season of club legend Raul.

A season of icons and high expectations

Raul Albiol left Real Madrid for Napoli. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)

“It was a pleasure to play with Raul,” said Albiol. “I grew up watching him, and to share a dressing room with him was an honour.

“That season was also special because Cristiano, Benzema, Kaka, and Xabi Alonso arrived. The squad was massive, full of stars, and although we didn’t win any trophies that year, it was still a great experience.”

Despite the big names and high hopes, Real Madrid failed to win silverware that season. However, the memories and lessons from that time remain important to Albiol.

Leaving Real Madrid for the love of the game

When asked whether he regretted leaving the club, Albiol admitted that it wasn’t an easy choice.

“Few players leave Real Madrid with four years left on their contract. I had to choose between staying with limited minutes or leaving to play regularly,” he explained.

Raul Albiol played 119 games for Real Madrid. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

He acknowledged that staying might have meant lifting multiple Champions League trophies. “If I had stayed, I could have won one, two, maybe even four Champions League titles. But at that time, I needed to feel like a footballer again.”

Albiol’s decision came before Carlo Ancelotti took over as manager. Without guarantees of playing time, he opted for a fresh start elsewhere.

“The easiest thing would have been to stay at Real Madrid. I was at the best club in the world. But I chose to play, and that’s what mattered most to me.

“I needed to feel like a footballer, and that’s how I decided. In the end, I didn’t look at other things.

“I was looking for other things: to feel good about myself, to feel valued, and to play and compete at a high level again, and Napoli gave me that,” he concluded.