José María Sánchez Lage

José María Sánchez Lage was an Argentine professional footballer who played as a winger for several clubs, including River Plate and Club Atlético Banfield in Argentina and Real Oviedo and Valencia C.F. in Spain . His former teammate and friend Paquito said: "He was the second Di Stéfano in Spain." The 1957–58 season had seen Real Oviedo promoted to La Liga. The club high point was a best-ever third position in 1962–63 (ranking joint-first with Real Madrid after the first 15 rounds).

However, the club had been experiencing financial difficulties and, under Enrique Orizaola, had to sell Sánchez Lage and other key players, Paquito García and José María.