Spain striker Joselu has joined Qatari side Al Gharafa from Real Madrid.
The 34-year-old scored 17 goals and provided three assists in 49 games for Madrid on loan for Espanyol last season, form that saw him make Luis de la Fuente’s squad for Euro 2024.
He previously looked set to extend his stay at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Madrid deciding to exercise their €1.5million option to sign him permanently.
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But after the striker received an offer to play for Al Gharafa the situation changed. According to sources with knowledge of the negotiations (who preferred to speak anonymously to protect relationships), he has been offered by far the highest salary of his career in Qatar.
Joselu informed Madrid of the offer and in order to help facilitate the move, the Spanish and European champions took up their option with Espnayol before completing negotiations with Al Gharafa to sell him for the same price.
“After exercising its option to acquire the rights of the player Joselu Mato from Espanyol, Real Madrid has reached an agreement with Al Gharafa SC for the transfer of our player,” a statement read.
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Joselu arrived unexpectedly, with the operation taking place at a time when the club still thought Karim Benzema would be in the team the next season.
Although he arrived after two consecutive relegations to Segunda División (with Alavés and Espanyol), the fans were very disappointed with the performance of Luka Jovic and the ‘canterano’ Mariano Díaz in recent years: Benzema would finally have a trusted replacement!
However, with the Frenchman’s departure to Saudi Arabia, everyone agreed on the need to sign a top striker. Everyone, including Carlo Ancelotti, who asked the board for the arrival of Harry Kane. But the club made little movement and that increased doubts and criticism about the planning of the squad.
Fans quickly pointed that it would be unfair to blame Joselu if the season went wrong, as he had been signed for a very secondary or even tertiary role.
Throughout the campaign, the Santiago Bernabéu was very affectionate with the striker. There is a key day, the one of the match between Real Madrid and Napoli in the
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Champions League. The crowd was really kind to Joselu from the beginning, even when he missed one chance after another. Finally, on the ninth try, Joselu scored and celebrated the goal… apologising to the fans.
He has always shown a perfect understanding of his role and the workings of the club at all levels (football, fans, press…).
Carlo Ancelotti and his staff have always been delighted with him. Since pre-season, the Italian highlighted that Joselu was a very important reinforcement because he brought a profile that didn’t exist in the squad, more of an area player, something that was seen to perfection on the night of the historic double against Bayern Munich.
But also because of his professionalism and commitment. His teammates have also seen it that way.
And, of course, his stats, which have exceeded everyone’s expectations inside: 17 goals and three assists in 2,126 minutes, averaging a goal involvement every 106.3 minutes.
For all these reasons, and although the club had decided weeks ago that they would exercise the option to buy him, it was then decided to help him leave for Qatar when he expressed his desire to embark on this new adventure.
(Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)