Valera’s Resurgence: From Valencia Disappointment to Elche Star

A year ago, Valera was among the players deemed surplus to requirements by Carlos Corberán in his vision for Valencia. He was signed on the last day of the August 2024 transfer window while en route to Elche, but a phone call changed his course. He decided to join Valencia.

Valera did not hesitate, steering his career towards Mestalla. However, his four months at Valencia turned out to be almost nightmarish. He had limited playing time under Baraja and struggled to make an impact, similarly to many of his teammates. The entire squad found itself trapped in a downward spiral, spending several weeks in the relegation zone, even dropping to the bottom of the league.

Corberán’s arrival at Valencia sealed Valera’s fate. He informed Valera that he would not be part of his plans, leading to a mutual agreement to terminate his contract, allowing him to return to Elche, where he was welcomed back with open arms.

Eder Sarabia, the coach of Elche, believed in Valera’s potential. With quality playing time, Valera emerged as a crucial player in the team’s promotion campaign. He excelled in the Segunda División, but his prospects in the top flight remained uncertain at that time.

Valera has indeed proven his worth, establishing himself as a key figure for Elche in La Liga. He started the season strong, experienced a slight dip, but has since regained his form.

During his time at Valencia, Valera participated in 12 matches without scoring a goal. He logged only 74 minutes under Corberán, all of which came in Copa del Rey matches against Eldense and Ourense, as the team struggled in league play. His last appearance for Valencia was against Real Sociedad on January 19, 2025, where he did not feature at all.

Transitioning to Elche in the Segunda División, Valera became instrumental, participating in 16 matches, scoring three goals, and providing three assists, contributing significantly to the team’s ascent.

Now in La Liga for the 2025-26 season, Valera has already played 17 matches, netting three goals and assisting twice. He has become a regular starter under coach Eder Sarabia.