Real Madrid

Valero was born in Madrid, and began his football career as a youngster in the ranks of Real Madrid.^[2] He made his first appearance for the reserve side in the Segunda División B as a second-half substitute, took part in the playoffs to earn promotion then spent two full seasons with them in the Segunda División.^[3]

Valero played only twice for the first team: given his debut by Fabio Capello against Écija on 25 October 2006, replacing Javi García after 60 minutes of a match in the Copa del Rey,^[4] he also featured once in the UEFA Champions League, substituting Miguel Ángel Nieto in a 2–2 away draw with Dynamo Kyiv in the group stage.^[5]

Mallorca

In August 2007, Valero signed a five-year contract with Mallorca following his release from Real Madrid.^[6] He scored his first La Liga goals in a 7–1 home win over Recreativo on 9 March 2008,^[7] and added another a month later, against his former team in a 1–1 home draw.^[8]

Valero scored the first goal on 11 May 2008, as his side came back from 2–0 down to beat Barcelona in Frank Rijkaard's last home game as the latter's manager.^[9] He made 17 starts and played a total of 1,892 minutes during the season, helping to a seventh-place finish.

In mid-August 2008, Mallorca's president stated that he had rejected bids from West Bromwich Albion for Valero and Óscar Trejo,^[10] but a week later, the former signed for the latter – newly promoted to the Premier League – for a club record fee of €7 million (£4.7 million). He agreed a four-year contract, with the option of a further year.^[11]

West Bromwich Albion

Valero made his debut four days later in Albion's 3–1 League Cup defeat away to Hartlepool United.^[12] Manager Tony Mowbray said that he would have benefited from his first game in English football, only hours after receiving international clearance, despite the loss.^[13]

Following the team's relegation to the Championship after just one season, Valero said that he intended to remain at the club: "I still have a three-year contract here and would like to be true to that. For sure playing in the second division is not ideal. But if I have to put up with it then I am going to put up with it."^[14] By the beginning of the next campaign, however, he had changed his mind: "I prefer to play in Mallorca and not to be in the second division in England. This is clear. I am disposed for a loan return but it is necessary for an accord between the clubs".^[15]

Just hours before the close of the transfer window, Valero returned to Mallorca on loan for 2009–10.^[16] On 13 September, in the first match in his second spell, he scored their 1000th top-flight goal in a 1–1 draw at Villarreal.^[17] In another away fixture, he netted in the last minute for the nine-man side to clinch a 1–1 draw against Atlético Madrid in October,^[18] and was ever-present as they finished fifth and qualified for the UEFA Europa League; he also won the prestigious Don Balón Award for the best Spanish player in the Spanish League.^[19]

At the end of the campaign, Valero returned to his parent club after Mallorca confirmed they could not afford to take up the agreed fee of £2.5 million to make the move permanent.^[20]

Villarreal

For 2010–11, it was reported that Valero was joining Villarreal on a five-year contract,^[19] but the clubs eventually agreed on a season-long loan, with the move to be made permanent at the end of the campaign.^[21] He scored on his home debut, a 4–0 victory over Espanyol on 12 September 2010,^[22] and featured heavily throughout the season as the team finished in fourth position and qualified for the Champions League.

On 1 July 2011, Villarreal signed Valero on a permanent basis for an undisclosed fee.^[23] The former were relegated at the end of the campaign, and it was reported that he was among a number of players expected to leave.^[24]

Fiorentina

On 1 August 2012, Fiorentina agreed with Villarreal for the transfer of Valero.^[25] The move was confirmed three days later, and he joined the Serie A side alongside teammate Gonzalo Rodríguez;^[26] he stated that leaving his previous club was not easy and that he still had not come to terms with its relegation.^[27]

Valero made an immediate impact at the Viola, scoring five league goals in 37 games in his first season and providing 11 assists^[28] as the team qualified for the Europa League. He scored his first goal in 2013–14 on 15 September in a 1–1 home draw against Cagliari,^[29] and, on 2 November, contributed to a 2–0 win at AC Milan;^[30] subsequently, he was named in Goal.com's Serie A Team of the Season.^[31]

On 15 July 2014, Valero signed a new deal at the Stadio Artemio Franchi until June 2019.^[32]

Inter Milan

On 10 July 2017, Valero transferred to Inter Milan on a three-year contract.^[33][34] He scored his first goal for his new club on 30 October, in a 2–1 away victory against Hellas Verona.^[35]

Valero scored twice from 19 appearances in the 2019–20 campaign for the runners-up.^[36]

Later career

On 16 September 2020, aged 35, Valero returned to Fiorentina.^[37] On 30 June 2021, he announced his retirement from professional football,^[38] but on 19 August confirmed to have agreed to join Florence-based fan-owned Promozione amateur club CS Lebowski.^[39]

Club

International