After a rapid negotiation, Espí joined Real Madrid's ranks following a standout season at Levante, where he scored 11 goals in 25 LaLiga appearances, and his switch to the squad was just as quick: Real Madrid paid around €25m for the 21-year-old forward, and he made his debut only 48 hours after the deal was completed.
Espí came on for Endrick in the 75th minute of Real Madrid's 2-2 draw with Fiorentina in Austria, José Mourinho's first game back in charge of the club, and had over a quarter of an hour to make an impression.
Speaking afterwards, Espí described what Mourinho had told him before sending him on: "He asked me to be myself, to be in the box because the game was 2-2 and tight, and to leave everything out there."
He added: "It's a dream, I'm here to help my team-mates, to give my all, whatever the manager gives me, every opportunity. That's what I'm going to do."
Despite the whirlwind few days, the new Real Madrid player wanted to say goodbye to the club that was his home and where he made his name.
"Despite the intense few days I've just had, I wanted to say goodbye to the club that has been my home all these years," Espí wrote. "Levante UD was the club that backed me from a young age, the place where I grew as a footballer and as a person, and where the path that has brought me to this new challenge began.
"I want to thank everyone who has been part of this stage: team-mates, coaches, the technical staff, club personnel and everyone who, in one way or another, has helped me get here. I have always felt so loved, and that's something I will carry with me forever. And, of course, thank you to the fans.
"From the day of my debut at the Ciutat, your support and your affection have always been there. You have always been there and you have been essential to me all these years. I will always carry you with me. I leave with peace of mind, knowing I gave everything I had every time I wore this badge, and with the pride of having represented these colours. Thank you for everything. Matxo Llevant!"
Levante proved instrumental in Espí's path to Real Madrid. He scored 20 goals in the Levante shirt in total, 13 of them last season in LaLiga, and helped the club to a promotion he will always remember.