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The League veteran wants to beat Paolo Maldini’s record

Villarreal captain Raúl Albiol is ready to play beyond his 40th birthday.

The veteran defender signed another contract extension last summer, signing for another 12 months, as an icon of the Yellow Submarine.

Albiol are on track to surpass the 400 La Liga match mark in the second half of the 2024/25 season with another 12-month renewal on the table.

Villarreal and Albiol are happy to keep their future going and he is confident of continuing to play after turning 40 in September.

Italian star Paolo Maldini played until he was 41 and Albiol has the ambitious goal of reaching 45, if he stays fit.

“I want to play until I’m 45, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to do it. I’m taking it year after year, I feel good, I’m happy because I’m healthy and injury-free,” according to Marca.

“I will help as much as possible on and off the field, but I don’t know what will happen. I want to enjoy every game because I know that time passes and it doesn’t last forever.

“Maldini played until he was 41, I want to play until he was 45. In Italy it is different, many players reach the age of 40, like Totti, Maldini.”

Albiol is currently 11th on Villarreal’s all-competition appearances list, with 201, and will need at least one more season to break into the top 10 in 2025.

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