Valencia Club de Fútbol tried to sign a young Pelé in 1957, according to the personal diary of then-technical secretary Eduardo Cubells, published on September 5 by the newspaper Mundo Deportivo. The mission, ordered by president Luis Casanova Giner, sought the best Brazilian player regardless of cost, but ended with the signing of Walter Marciano and a historic encounter with 'The King' years later.

What does Eduardo Cubells' diary reveal?

Cubells' informal notebook, found by his granddaughter Curri and presented at the club's foundation Fórum Algirós, details his trip to Rio de Janeiro in August 1957. President Casanova gave him a clear instruction: "Fiche al mejor y no repare en gastos" (Sign the best and spare no expense). Cubells, nicknamed 'Cucala' and 'Samitier' for his loyalty to Valencia, was the first player to score a goal for the club and its first international, later serving as coach, technical secretary, and vice-president.

His first target in Brazil was Didí of Botafogo, but the club rejected an offer of five million cruzeiros. He then signed Walter Marciano from Vasco da Gama for six million. It was Vasco's president, Arthur Rodrigues Pires, who advised him to watch a 17-year-old talent at Santos: Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé. Cubells was impressed by the size of the Maracanã, but ultimately did not complete the signing of the future king. "Nos hablaba mucho del interés que tuvo en fichar a Pelé que era el jugador que más le gustaba" (He often told us about his interest in signing Pelé, the player he liked the most), his granddaughter Curri recalled.

How did Valencia meet Pelé afterwards?

Although he didn't sign him, Cubells help Santos' participation in the 1959 Naranja Tournament. There, Pelé, already a world champion in 1958 and crowned 'El Rey' by Paris Match magazine, faced Valencia. The match ended 4-4, with Pelé opening the scoring and later thanking Valencia staff for their efforts to bring him to Mestalla. A historic photo shows Pelé with Walter Marciano, the attacking duo Cubells had envisioned.

This historical chapter contrasts with the team's current situation. Valencia CF faces its next match, a clash against leaders Barcelona, sitting 17th in La Liga with just one point from three games. Their recent form is LLD and their goal difference is -3, with only one goal scored and four conceded. Also, the team has several injured players like S. Canos, J. Copete, and U. Sadiq.

What other great names wore the Valencia shirt?

The club's history is full of legendary figures. A year before Cubells' trip, in 1956, the great László Kubala played a friendly for Valencia against Glasgow Rangers at Mestalla. The team wore a 'senyera' jersey for the occasion. After going behind, Valencia scored four goals in 15 minutes of the second half, with two from Kubala, one from Seguí, and one from Faas Wilkes.

Kubala played again for Valencia on March 13, 1960, in a match organized by the Valencian Press Association against Berliner SV. At nearly 33 years old, the Hungarian scored one goal and provided two assists in a 5-1 win. These matches, along with the near-signing of Pelé, are part of the rich legacy the club seeks to honor as it prepares for its next challenge in the league.

Valencia CF hosts Barcelona on September 6, 2026 at Mestalla, trying to overcome an eight-point deficit to the leaders.