#3 David Silva 2004-2010
There are very few players in the world who possess ability on the ball and the vision on the pitch that the Manchester city superstar possesses. The diminutive playmaker can wriggle his way past defenders without making any fuss and has the ability to put in inch perfect crosses and passes to dismantle even the toughest of defences across the globe.
Silva joined Valencia as a 14-year-old in 2000 and rose rapidly through the club’s academy to establish himself as one of the brightest young talents in Spain. Touted to be the future of the club by the management, he was shipped on a season-long loan to Eibar and Celta Viga in 2004-05 as well as 2005-06 to help him find first team and continue with his development as a footballer and the move yielded rich rewards for the club.
When Silva returned to the club at the beginning of the 2006-07 season, he already had a reputation to maintain as an attacker and the Spaniard did not disappoint. In the four seasons that he was part of the Valencia first team, Silva made 161 appearances and played a key role in the side’s rise to the Spanish football.
Functioning as his side’s creative lynchpin, Silva demonstrated his creative abilities and was soon involved in a big money move to Manchester City, where he continues to enchant us with his displays in the middle of the park.
