STORY IN 10 TWEETS: He was born on 8 January 1986, in a sleepy fishing town called Arguineguin in the Canary Islands, to Fernando, a local Canarian and a former police officer & Eva, a housewife of Japanese descent. One of three kids, he was smitten by football at an early age

Infact for a long time the word "futbol" was all he could say as a child. He spent his early childhood kicking fruits around on the street and watching his father play football locally. His other major inspiration was Michael Laudrup, whose grace and simplicity he admired

At 8 he got the opportunity to play for an under 10 team, San Fernando at Maspalomas, a town 13 km away. Oddly enough, he started as a goalkeeper, an strange fit for a kid with a tiny stature and then thankfully was moved to a winger. He stayed on at San Fernando for 6 years.

At the age of 14, he appeared at the trials at Real Madrid, a club his hero Ladrup had played a couple of seasons. By all accounts he did well, even catching the eye of the head coach, Vicente Del Bosque. But, it wasn't to be.

His diminutive stature was considered a negative and he was turned down. He didn't give up, neither did his family and his perseverence was rewarded with an entry into Valencia CF's academy. Finally a platform to hone his talent had been found.

Even then his life was without its own trials, at the age of 15 he lost his cousin, the 5 year old Cynthia Vega to cancer, he was very close to her and even today he honours her memory by kissing his left wrist where he has a tattoo of her name everytime he scores a goal

At Valencia, he thrived in the youth system and after two loan spells at Eibar and Celta Vigo, he made his debut for the Valencia senior squad at the age of 20 and was immediately first choice.

He has a successful partnership with David Villa and the two were instrumental in Valencia lifting the Copa Del Rey, after nearly 9 years. And then, in 2010, he moved to the Premier League, where there were doubts about his abilities, infact he was even called "Lilliputian"

But David Silva made the premier League his playground. He has spun his magic and has been instrumental in bringing beauty to a game which is often rough and physical. And for that our Merlin will probably go down as the best foreign import that the premier League has ever seen.

Fin.