RAUL Albiol has given Valencia fans a much-needed boost by declaring he wants to stay at the club for the rest of his career - although he realises the decision may not be down to him.

RAUL Albiol has given Valencia fans a much-needed boost by declaring he wants to stay at the club for the rest of his career - although he realises the decision may not be down to him.

The 23-year-old centre-back has been linked with possible moves to Liverpool and Arsenal in recent weeks but the Spain international insists he is keen to stay with the club he started his career with.

“I want to be here. I'm happy playing at my home-town club and I hope I can always remain here. I have a contract here and I hope to complete it,” he said.

That is a rare piece of good news for Valencia fans these days, with their club in trouble both on and off the pitch.

On the pitch, Unai Emery's side have won just one of their last 10 competitive fixtures - against Almeria on February 1 - and during that poor run have been knocked out of both the Copa del Rey and UEFA Cup.

That have also plummeted down to eighth in the league, six points off the lucrative Champions League places, and last weekend suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at bottom club Numancia.

Valencia's problems off the field are even more worrying for the fans though, with the club heavily in debt, struggling to pay the players and conceding for the first time last week they may have to cash in on their star players.

Euro 2008 winner Albiol is one of those star players, and he admits his future at the club may be out of his hands.

“If you have to go, you will, but until June 30 we are all here defending the Valencia shirt,” he added.

Los Che will aim to get things back on track at least on the pitch this weekend when they host Recreativo Huelva.