 on 12 September 2006, in that year's UEFA Champions League, which Valencia won 4–2 away; during his four-season spell with the first team, his smallest output consisted of 29 games, and he helped the "Che" to the 2007–08 edition of the Copa del Rey.On 25 June 2009, Albiol joined Real Madrid for a fee thought to be in the region of €15 million, becoming the first Spanish player signed by Florentino Pérez upon his return to the presidency.On 2 July, he was officially presented at the Santiago Bernabéu, receiving the number 18 jersey from Rubén de la Red who was absent for the season due to unresolved heart problems.