You played with David Silva in Valencia’s academy – what was he like then?
He was a unique footballer. I joined Valencia aged 16 and played alongside him, then we played together for the reserves, and for the first team when he was 21 and I was 22. He was different. He could see things that others couldn’t. He always spotted the correct pass, and in training he never gave the ball away – it was impossible to take it from him.
How did your eventual breakthrough at Valencia feel, having had to wait and spend time at other clubs first?
I played for the youth teams, but left at 18. I went to Club Deportivo Onda – quite close to where I’m from, in Castellonwere in the third division. After a good year, Valencia recalled me and I returned to the second team. I made my first-team debut, then was loaned to Cadiz and Getafe. When I came back, I was playing with world-class guys like David Villa, Patrick Kluivert and Juan Mata. For me, it was a dream. All of it helped me to improve and eventually I was invited to join the national team.
