Real Madrid complete signing of Espanyol and Spain striker Joselu
The No.9 makes the move to the Santiago Bernabeu on an initial one-year loan
Real Madrid have signed striker Joselu Mato on loan for one season. The striker, who played a starring role in Spain's UEFA Nations League success by scoring in the semi-final against Italy and in the penalty shoot-out against Croatia, returns to the club where he played 11 seasons ago.
Joselu, 33, arrives on loan for one season and Madrid will pay a €4 million fee. Espanyol have tried to include a purchase option in the contract so that Los Blancos can keep the striker on loan Los Pericos cannot afford to pay his salary as they have been relegated to the second division.
Joselu has played for Celta B, Castilla, Celta, Hoffenheim, Eintracht Frankfurt, Hannover, Stoke City, Deportivo de La Coruña, Newcastle United, Deportivo Alavés and Espanyol. In principle, the striker arrives to cover for the departures of Mariano and Hazard in the Real Madrid forward line, both of whom Madrid have got rid of.
Only No.9
However, Madrid presidnet Florentino Pérez has commented that there are no plans to sign a player to replace Karim Benzema after the Frenachman's departure to Saudi Arabia. If confirmed, Joselu will be the team's first-choice striker, in a position where he would have to alternate with the Brazilian Rodrygo, who has played as a false 9 in some cases this season, and with home-grown Álvaro Rodríguez, 'El Toro'.
Joselu was the top Spanish scorer in LaLiga this season with 16 goals, behind Benzema's 19 and Lewandowski's 26. He has also been the leading scorer for Luis de la Fuente's new national team, with two goals against Norway on his debut, the goal against Italy in the Nations League semi-final and the goal that opened the penalty shoot-out for Spain against Croatia.
