When on February 12th a surgery was carried out in London for a cleaning operation on the left knee, it seemed that Raul Albiol's season was in fact over. Now that the Spanish defender is back in a group to train in Castel Volturno there is optimism and not just for a short recovery. Yes, because Raul is unlikely to resume his seat next to Kalidou Koulibaly Thursday night against Arsenal, but his presence, the character of the Spaniard becomes an extra stimulus in the blue environment to try to turn the 2-0 of the went to the Emirates.

DREAMING HOME - There is one more reason, among other things, that leads Albiol to push his companions to the company. Napoli in the semifinals would probably face Valencia, the club in which Raul grew up, born in Vilamarxant in the Valencian Community, where Vila-real is also the city of ceramics that with its "Yellow Submarine", Villarreal, contends the semi-final to the capital. Last summer, Villarreal proposed a contract to Albiol, which, however, convinced itself to prolong its Neapolitan experience, postponing the return home. If Napoli beat Arsenal at that point a fully recovered Albiol could be the protagonist in a challenge to his countrymen.