Clubs: Real Madrid Castilla CF, Real Madrid (twice), Getafe CF (initially on loan)

UEFA honours
UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2006

• Born in the Spanish capital, he first wore a Madrid shirt aged eight and made waves throughout his youth career, earning international recognition from his mid-teens onwards and winning the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2006.

• Played for Madrid B in 2006/07 but was not deemed ready for elevation to the first team and was farmed out for a season to Getafe, where he shone in midfield and helped the club reach the UEFA Cup quarter-finals.

• Joined Getafe permanently in 2008 but performed so well, especially after the arrival of his former Madrid B coach Míchel, that Madrid took advantage of a contract clause and bought him back a year later.

• Featured twice for Spain at the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals in Sweden, where his team were eliminated at the group stage.

• Made 31 Liga appearances under Manuel Pellegrini in 2009/10 and scored his first senior goal for Madrid in a 3-0 win at RCD Espanyol on 12 September 2009.

• Starts before the winter break in 2010/11 under José Mourinho were limited to the Copa del Rey and one in the UEFA Champions League group stage.