[6] On the last matchday of the 2006–07 campaign, Tamudo reached 112 goals scored in the first division, making him the top all-time scorer for Espanyol:[7] his brace in the 2–2 away draw against city rivals Barcelona on 9 June 2007 took him past former Blanquiazul star Marañón's 1983 record of 111, and allowed Real Madrid to clinch the league title.

[9] Some injury problems[10][11] and loss of form limited Tamudo in the following two seasons, and he lost the starting job midway through 2008–09 to newly signed Uruguayan Iván Alonso; however, in the last matchday, he scored three past Málaga in a 3–0 home success – which was good enough for leading the team in goals once again, at six – being replaced to a standing ovation.

[12] 2009–10 was nothing short of disastrous for Tamudo, in sporting terms: again, he struggled with some injuries, was ostracised by manager and former teammate Mauricio Pochettino, who also deprived him of his captain armband during preseason, in favour of club youth graduate Daniel Jarque,[13] and confronted the board of directors over contractual issues;[14] his status was further diminished in the January transfer window, with the signing of another Argentine, Dani Osvaldo,[15] and he eventually finished the campaign with only six league games and no goals.

He was a starter throughout most of his first season, notably scoring against his main club Espanyol but in a 5–1 away loss;[20] on 13 May 2012, he was brought from the bench to net the game's only goal in the 90th minute at home against Granada in the last matchday, with the Madrid outskirts team finally avoiding relegation at the expense of Villarreal.

[30] A full international since 16 August 2000 (Germany-Spain, 4–1 loss),[31] Tamudo returned to the lineup after a two-year absence to score a vital goal in a 3–1 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier away win against Denmark on 13 October 2007.