• Crowned a fabulous first season at Chelsea FC by helping the club win the UEFA Champions League for the first time; scored twice in 12 appearances in the competition and set up Didider Drogba's equalising goal in the final against FC Bayern München.

• Credited with 26 assists in all competitions for the Stamford Bridge club during the 2011/12 campaign, he was also named man of the match in the FA Cup final victory over Liverpool FC at Wembley.

• A member of Spain's UEFA EURO 2012 squad, he made only one appearance at the tournament – as a late substitute in the final, scoring with his first touch to complete La Roja's 4-0 defeat of Italy.