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#2 Dani Parejo (Valencia)
Parejo is one of several players to be cast aside by a top club before working his way back to the top level.
A product of Real Madrid, the midfielder rose through the various youth levels before becoming a regular for their B team, Real Madrid Castilla. A loan spell to Queens Park Rangers in 2008 didn’t work out and was cut short halfway through the season, before he was sold to Getafe in the summer of 2009 for just under £3m.
Parejo impressed enough during his two years at Getafe to earn a move to Valencia. He’s been there ever since and now captains the club.
In many ways, Parejo is unfortunate to be a Spanish midfielder in a decade where Spain were inundated with fantastic midfield players. His lack of international appearances – just the one he received last March – is not indicative of his actual quality. As far as playmakers go, he’s one of the best outside of the league’s biggest clubs.
Always level-headed and composed in midfield, Parejo is the chief creator at Valencia, often being tasked with starting moves before moving up the pitch to deliver a final pass. He was a key figure in Marcelino’s rejuvenation of the side last season, showing impressive discipline to play in a two-man midfield.
His all-round midfield performances have earned him links to the big clubs, but at 29, it seems that ship has sailed. Nonetheless, he’ll remain a key part of a Valencia team aiming to make an impact in the Champions League for the first time in several years.
