Napoli defender Raul Albiol passed Villarreal medical

The Yellow Submarine have trumped Valencia in a move for the experienced defender while Marca previously reported that a deal is ‘virtually closed’.

The veteran, who turns 34 in September, joined Napoli from Real Madrid in 2013 but favoured a return to Spanish football this summer.

“Albiol has already told us that he wants to leave, I will not force him to stay and it is our duty to replace him,” Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis told official radio, as cited by Marca.

Capped 52 times by the Spain international team, Albiol spent the first seven seasons of his career at Valencia alongside spending a season-long loan at Getafe.

Albiol then went on to spend four seasons at Real Madrid - scoring twice across 119 appearances - before his Napoli move six years ago.