Daniel "Dani" Abalo Paulos (; born 29 September 1987) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a right winger.
He began his career at Celta, playing almost exclusively in the Segunda División, and won the Bulgarian league title twice with Ludogorets.
Born in VilagarcÃÂa de Arousa, Province of Pontevedra, Abalo joined local RC Celta de Vigo for his last year as a junior, then proceeded to make his senior debuts with the B team in the Segunda División B. On 3 December 2006 he made his first competitive appearance with the main squad, coming in as a late substitute in a 2âÂÂ2 La Liga away draw against RCD Mallorca; in late July 2009 he extended his contract with the Galicians until 2013, with a buyout clause of â¬10 million.
From 2008 to 2011, with Celta in the Segunda División, Abalo was an important first-team element. However, in the 2011âÂÂ12 season, as the club returned to the top flight after an absence of five years, he contributed only four games and 67 minutes, being subsequently loaned in quick succession to Gimnàstic de Tarragona and S.C. Beira-Mar (the latter in Portugal).
On 26 June 2013, Bulgarian champions PFC Ludogorets Razgrad announced they were set to sign Abalo after he became a free agent shortly after. The transfer was completed the following day after he passed his medical, and the player agreed to a two-year contract, being given the number 17 shirt.
Abalo played his first game with his new team on 17 July 2013, featuring in a 2âÂÂ1 away defeat against à  K Slovan Bratislava in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. He made his league debut three days later in the 1âÂÂ0 loss at FC Lyubimets 2007; in the second leg against Slovan on the 24th, he scored twice for a 3âÂÂ0 win at Ludogorets Arena and the subsequent qualification.
Abalo made his debut in the Champions League group phase on 16 September 2014, grabbing a 1âÂÂ1 equaliser away against Liverpool in the 90th minute, but in an eventual 2âÂÂ1 defeat. He repeated the feat in the second match between the two sides, a 2âÂÂ2 draw.
Having won the league title in both of his seasons, Abalo left Ludogorets in May 2015 with the intention of returning to Spain or moving to England.
On 24 July 2015, Abalo signed a two-year contract at Turkish Süper Lig club Sivasspor. He made his debut on 23 August, scoring from Cicinho's assist in a 4âÂÂ2 loss at Eskià Âehirspor.
Abalo returned to his country on 20 January 2016, joining Deportivo Alavés until the end of the second-tier campaign. After gaining promotion with the Basques he travelled abroad again, to Poland's Korona Kielce on 3 September. A week later he made his debut in Ekstraklasa, replacing compatriot Miguel Palanca for the final seven minutes of a 1âÂÂ0 home win over Arka Gdynia; his first goal came on 17 October, again off the bench to equalise in a 1âÂÂ2 loss to à Âlàsk Wrocà Âaw at the Kielce City Stadium.
On 31 August 2017, Abalo signed a three-year deal at FC Cartagena in Spain's division three. His team won their group in his first season, but were eliminated from the playoffs by Extremadura UD, and in his second year he was loaned to UP Langreo of the same league; his contract was rescinded on 3 July 2019.
Ludogorets
Alavés