Having begun his career at lower league clubs he signed for Barcelona in 2008, playing predominantly with its reserves. He totalled 243 games and 60 goals in La Liga, where he also represented Granada, Celta and Sevilla. Abroad, he played two seasons for Benfica in Portugal, and one in the English Premier League with Manchester City.
Nolito made his debut for Spain in November 2014, representing the nation at Euro 2016.
Nolito arrived at Barcelona's youth academy at nearly 22 years of age, after scoring 13 times for Écija the previous campaign. With the Catalans' B team, also in the third tier, he scored 16 league goals over two seasons – 12 in the second[9]– as the side returned to the Segunda División after an 11-year absence.[10]
In late May 2011, Nolito rejected Barcelona's offer of a professional contract and instead signed a five-year deal with Portuguese club Benfica, effective as of 1 July.[13] He scored on his official debut on the 27th, a 2–0 home win against Trabzonspor in the UEFA Champions Leaguethird qualifying round.[14] He also netted in the second leg, a 1–1 draw.[15]
On 20 August 2011, Nolito scored once in a 3–1 home victory over Feirense, making him alongside Eusébio the only player to score in his first five official matches.[16] He managed 15 goals in 48 competitive appearances in his first season,[9]helping his team to win the Taça da Liga.[17]
Nolito returned to his country and his native region on 29 January 2013, being loaned to Granada for six months and a fee of €600,000, without the possibility of making the move permanent in June.[18][19] In his first match, four days after signing, he took the corner which resulted in Cristiano Ronaldo's own goal for the game's only, giving Granada their first win over Real Madrid in 40 years.[20][21]
Celta
[edit]Nolito talking to an assistant referee in 2015
Nolito signed with Celta de Vigo on 1 July 2013, penning a four-year deal and reuniting with former Barcelona B boss Luis Enrique.[22] He finished his debut campaign as team top scorer with 14.[23]
Nolito was named La Liga Player of the Month for September 2014, with four goals during a month which ended with the side in sixth position.[24] He created 96 goalscoring opportunities over the campaign, the most in the Spanish league and fourth most in Europe's five leading leagues.[25]
On 23 September 2015, Nolito took his league tally to five after scoring once and providing two assists for Iago Aspas in a 4–1 home defeat of former club Barcelona.[26] He totalled three goals and an assist that month to help them remain unbeaten, earning him a second Player of the Month accolade.[27] In mid-December, however, he suffered a hamstring injury against Espanyol which sidelined him for two months.[28][29]
Nolito returned to action on 20 February 2016, featuring roughly 20 minutes in a 3–2 home win over Eibar.[30] In the following round, he scored the game's only goal at Getafe,[31] and Celta eventually finished in sixth place.
On 18 June 2020, Nolito rejoined Celta on a reported one-year deal. His Sevilla contract was set to expire at the end of the month, and the former were granted an emergency exception to acquire him outside of the transfer window because of a long-term injury to goalkeeper Sergio Álvarez.[39][40] Three days later, in his first game back, he came off the bench to assist Santi Mina and score a penalty in a 6–0 home thrashing of Alavés.[41]
On 5 September 2022, Nolito joined second-tier Ibiza on a free transfer, on a two-year deal.[42] He played 28 times in his only season as the Balearic side were relegated,[43][44] scoring just once in a 3–2 home win over Lugo on 2 October.[45]
Nolito's contract was terminated in June 2023, and he announced his retirement at 36 on 13 September.[46]
On 17 May 2016, Nolito was named in the preliminary squad for the final tournament in France.[49] Twelve days later, in a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina, he scored his first goals, striking twice in the first half of a 3–1 win in Switzerland.[50] he repeated the feat the following match, a 6–1 rout of South Korea in Austria.[51]
Selected for the squad of 23,[52] Nolito acted often as starter, scoring from close range in a 3–0 group stage victory over Turkey at the Stade de Nice and also assisting Álvaro Morata for the opener.[53]
^Garrido, Clemente (21 June 2020). "Nolito empieza a lo grande" [Nolito starts off great]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 June 2020.
^García, Sergio (5 September 2022). "Oficial: Nolito firma por la UD Ibiza" [Official: Nolito signs for UD Ibiza]. Periódico de Ibiza (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 June 2023.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
South Korea
Turkey
Albania
