Pepelu jeered on Valencia arrival at Ciutat by Levante fans | OneFootball

Pepelu was the flashpoint as Valencia arrived at the Ciutat de València, where sections of Levante fans directed insults at him. According to Superdeporte, chants labelled the midfielder a rat as the squad made their way inside.

This is his first visit as an opponent on 15 February 2026, 974 days after his last Levante outing there on 17 June 2023 when Alavés dashed promotion. He returns as Valencia’s third captain and a centurion, with both clubs focused on survival.

A Levante academy product from age 13, his €5 million switch on eight July 2023 cut deep among supporters. He argued the deal suited all three parties, thanked the fanbase, said he understood their feelings and later apologised in a farewell letter, calling himself an unconditional Levante supporter.

The fallout included social media anger and banners around the city. Former Valencia sporting director Miguel Ángel Corona has since reflected that paying his release clause had not been straightforward.

He has made 101 appearances since debuting on 11 August 2023 away to Sevilla, with 39 games in 23/24, 39 in 24/25 and 23 this season. He earned a first Spain call-up in summer 2024 under Luis de la Fuente.

He faced Levante at Mestalla on 21 November 2025, when Valencia won 1-0 thanks to a Hugo Duro overhead kick. That night he topped the team for distance covered at 10,890 m, produced eight recoveries and registered 87% forward pass accuracy.

Source: Superdeporte