He began his career with the reserve teams of Real Madrid, but made a name for himself at Espanyol. In 2011 he returned to his previous club and, two years later, left for Napoli, where he won two Coppa Italia tournaments and the 2014 Supercoppa Italiana while appearing in 349 competitive matches (82 goals scored).
At the end of the season, Callejón left Real Madrid (with twin brother Juanmi) and signed a four-year contract with RCD Espanyol.[8][9] He made his La Liga debut on 20 September 2008, as a late substitute in a 1–1 home draw against Getafe CF.[10]
On 15 March 2009, as Espanyol struggled immensely in the league – eventually ranking in tenth position – Callejón scored his first goal for the Catalans in a 3–3 home draw to RCD Mallorca.[11] He continued to be an undisputed starter under Mauricio Pochettino the following campaigns, operating mainly as a winger.[12]
On 23 May 2011, Callejón re-joined Real Madrid on a five-year deal effective as of 1 July, for a reported fee of €5.5 million.[15] On 16 July, he played his first match for them in a 4–1 friendly victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy, scoring the first goal of the game in the 30th minute.[16]
On 2 October 2011, Callejón netted his first official goal for Real Madrid after coming on midway through the second half of an away fixture against former club Espanyol; he scored from a Cristiano Ronaldoassist in an eventual 4–0 win but did not celebrate the goal, instead raising his arms in the air in a mark of respect for his former employer.[17]
Profiting from the fact that his team had already qualified from the UEFA Champions Leaguegroup stage as leaders, Callejón was handed a rare start by manager José Mourinho on 22 November 2011, and responded by scoring a brace in a 6–2 home rout of NK Dinamo Zagreb.[18] He added another two in the last round, at AFC Ajax (3–0).[19]
As a starter, Callejón continued with his impressive scoring form: he scored once in a 6–2 away win over Sevilla on 17 December 2011,[20] and in the tie against SD Ponferradina for the season's Copa del Rey he netted three of his team's seven aggregate goals, one away and two at home.[21][22]
On 14 January 2012, Callejón scored the winner in a 2–1 defeat of Mallorca, helping the visitors come from behind with his 84th-minute long-range strike.[23] He added another the following matchday, closing the score in a 4–1 home victory against Athletic Bilbao.[24]
Napoli
Callejón (wearing No.7) playing for Napoli against Barcelona, 2014
On 9 July 2013, Italian club SSC Napoli announced that they had reached an agreement for the transfer of Callejón for €10 million.[25][26] The four-year deal was confirmed two days later.[27]
Callejón scored in his Serie A debut on 25 August, netting the opener in a 3–0 home win over Bologna FC 1909,[28] and went on to find the net a further seven times in his first 20 official appearances. On 22 October, he scored his first goal in Europe for his new team, grabbing his team's first in a 2–1 victory at Olympique de Marseille in the Champions League group stage.[29]
On 3 May 2014, Callejón set up Dries Mertens for the third goal in a 3–1 win against ACF Fiorentina in the final of the Coppa Italia.[30] He scored once in the final game of the season, a 5–1 home rout of Hellas Verona FC on 18 May; his strike after five minutes was Napoli's 100th goal in all competitions that season, and his 20th overall.[31]
Callejón netted his first goal of 2014–15 on the opening day of the campaign, the opener in a 2–1 win over Genoa CFC.[32] His second came on 24 September, as he scored at the stroke of half-time to put his side up 3–2 against US Città di Palermo in an eventual 3–3 home draw.[33] On 19 October, he scored twice in a 2–2 draw at Inter Milan, with all four of the game's goals coming in the last 11 minutes.[34]
In the Derby del Sole match against AS Roma on 2 November 2014, Callejón hit the post and had a shot saved off the line before eventually finding the net late on in the 2–0 victory.[35] The strike took his league goal tally to eight on the season, two more than his closest competitors, and he was included in the Serie A Team of the Week lineup.[36]
On 17 September 2015, Callejón scored twice in Napoli's first game of the UEFA Europa League group stage, a 5–0 home rout of Club Brugge KV.[37] For the same competition, away to FC Midtjylland on 22 October, he volleyed a long pass from Kalidou Koulibaly to open a 4–1 victory; UEFA dubbed the latter effort an "early contender for goal of the group stage".[38]
Callejón marked his 200th appearance for the Azzurri with his 57th goal on 9 April 2017, in a 3–0 league win against SS Lazio.[39] His 300th came on 28 April 2019, in the 2–0 away victory over Frosinone Calcio.[40]
In August 2020, the 33-year-old Callejón left the Stadio San Paolo after his contract expired.[41]
Fiorentina
On 5 October 2020, Callejón agreed to a deal with Fiorentina.[42] He scored twice in competitive matches during his spell, once in the league against UC Sampdoria (3–1 home win)[43] and once in the domestic cup to help beat Calcio Padova 2–1 also at home.[44]
Granada
Callejón returned to Spain on 25 July 2022 after nine years away, signing a one-year contract with Granada CF with the option of an extension based on sporting performance.[45] He won the second tier in his first season, appearing in all 42 games.[46]
A versatile, tenacious and hard-working right-footed player, Callejón was capable of playing anywhere along the front line, and was used as a forward or a winger on either flank, in the centre as an attacking midfielder and as a supporting striker. Although he usually occupied a position in or behind the main attacking line, due to his personality and ability to provide balance to his teams by linking-up play between the forwards and midfielders, he was also capable of playing in the centre as a main striker, and was also occasionally deployed in deeper roles under Mourinho during his time at Real Madrid, as a central midfielder or even as an attacking full-back or wing-back.
A quick, mobile and creative player, with good technical ability, Callejón was capable of both creating and scoring goals due to his powerful shot and excellent offensive movement off the ball, as demonstrated by his ability to lose his markers by make attacking runs in behind the defensive line and into the area from deeper or wider areas. He was also a good header of the ball, in spite of his average stature.[51][52][53][54][55][56]
Personal life
Callejón's twin brother Juanmi was also a footballer, and both were Real Madrid graduates.[57][58]
On 6 November 2020, he tested positive for COVID-19.[59]
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