 From a man used game after game by Steaua Bucureşti he became an unused substitute at Valencia and that damaged his career.After two years at Valencia in which he only played 11 games, Şerban is loaned to Villarreal CF, in Spain's La Liga, and from there to Elche CF.At Elche he had a good period, playing 35 games and scoring 11 goals during the full season, and as a result he is called back by Valencia CF only to be released after few weeks and sent to Rapid Bucharest.