When Joselu traces up for Al Gharafa within the Qatar Stars League for the primary time, he could marvel if all of it actually occurred.
One minute he was again at Actual Madrid after over a decade away. The subsequent he wasn’t.
The 34-year-old striker scored 17 objectives and supplied three assists in 49 appearances — with simply 18 of these being begins — for Madrid final season whereas on mortgage from second-division Espanyol. Two of these objectives, as an 81st-minute substitute, despatched Madrid to a champions league ultimate they’d win from a semi-final they have been dropping when he got here on.
However that doesn’t start to seize the absurdity of his temporary, good second spell with Madrid.
His first spell was not so good, and even briefer — enjoying twice as an alternative choice to a mixed 18 minutes.
Signed from Celta Vigo at 19 in summer time 2009, he scored in each appearances in 2011, one in Could the opposite in December, after being promoted from the ‘B’ crew. However that was it for him as a Madrid player till he was offered after the 2011-12 season, and his profession within the years that adopted didn’t recommend he can be returning to the Santiago Bernabeu anytime quickly.
Unremarkable stints with three golf equipment in Germany have been adopted by poor ones at Stoke Metropolis and Newcastle United in England. By no means thoughts doing it on a moist and windy night time in Stoke; he couldn’t even make it off the bench for an away recreation in opposition to fourth-division Stevenage.
Maybe an excessive amount of was manufactured from these struggles in English football.
By the point Joselu rejoined Madrid on a season-long mortgage final summer time, he had confirmed himself as a dependable goalscorer even for relegation-bound sides in Alaves and Espanyol. He had scored 11 La Liga objectives or extra in every of the earlier 5 seasons and solely Robert Lewandowski of Barcelona and Madrid’s Karim Benzema obtained greater than his 16 in 2022-23, regardless of him enjoying for an Espanyol aspect who completed second-bottom within the 20-team division.
The closest he obtained to Actual Madrid in his 11 years away was a visit to Paris, as a fan, to see their win within the 2021-22 champions League ultimate in opposition to Liverpool. When he advised the viewers at his unveiling 12 months later that he had “dreamed of this second” for the reason that day he left the Spanish capital to hitch Hoffenheim, he meant it.
Joselu impressed for a struggling Espanyol crew (Aitor Alcalde/Getty Pictures)
“I’m not right here to switch anybody,” he mentioned, when requested in regards to the departure of fellow striker Benzema, Madrid’s second all-time high scorer, to Saudi Professional League aspect Al Ittihad. “I’m right here to do my bit, (put in place) all the pieces I’ve realized over time, to get pleasure from myself, to do all the pieces the coach asks me to do. Everyone knows Karim’s stage at this membership, he is likely one of the greatest strikers on the planet. I come to do a special sort of job.”
That job grew to become clear as final season progressed.
Head coach Carlo Ancelotti used midfielder Jude Bellingham, one other new arrival, in a sophisticated position after he wasn’t given the highest striker he requested for to instantly change Benzema. He known as on Joselu, largely from the bench, when games required his 6ft 3in (191cm) body and a poacher in entrance of aim.
At instances, it appeared as if Joselu was embarrassed to be enjoying alongside Madrid’s stars. He really apologised to the Bernabeu crowd after lastly scoring in a single Champions League recreation in opposition to Napoli of Italy final November during which he had missed a number of possibilities. Bellingham needed to bodily push him ahead to make sure he loved his second.
However he deserved to be there. That a lot is obvious from his La Liga shot map from final season.
Joselu scored 10 objectives from an anticipated objectives (xG) determine of 10. He was medical from shut vary and confirmed his capability to get into harmful positions — all however 5 of his photographs have been from contained in the penalty field.
Nowhere was that extra evident than in that epic Champions League semi-final second leg at dwelling in opposition to Bayern Munich.
The best way Joselu latched onto an error from the in any other case glorious Manuel Neuer to attract the perimeters stage within the 88th minute was the right illustration of seizing the second. His stoppage-time winner was one other instance of ‘Proper place, proper time.’
An image of him on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris earlier than that 2022 ultimate circulated on social media, as did a publish from August 2012 during which Joselu requested, “Does anybody have a great (on-line) hyperlink to look at Madrid?”. “My goals aren’t as stunning as what occurred,” he mentioned within the aftermath of that comeback win in opposition to Bayern.
He performed solely a small half within the ultimate in opposition to Borussia Dortmund, approaching within the eighty fifth minute with Madrid 2-0 up (the ultimate scoreline) to widespread applause from their supporters. However he had achieved his job in securing a La Liga-Champions League double for the membership he helps, profitable them their record-extending thirty sixth and fifteenth titles in every competitors.
Joselu celebrates his vital contribution within the Champions League semi-final (David Ramos/Getty Pictures)
Issues have been altering even then.
Two days after that ultimate, Madrid ultimately introduced the signing of Kylian Mbappe after greater than a decade of chasing the present France captain. Endrick was already as a result of arrive this summer time, as soon as he turned 18 — Madrid had introduced their deal for the now Brazil worldwide ahead in December 2022. If he stayed, Joselu would go from being the one centre-forward in Ancelotti’s squad to third-choice.
So who might blame him for taking one final payday, having turned 34 in March?
His vacation spot within the Gulf states is uncommon, regardless of the current recruiting drive by neighbouring Saudi Arabia, and the standard of soccer removed from what he skilled final season — Opta’s energy rankings don’t have the Qatar Stars League within the high 50 home competitions worldwide. However unsurprisingly, sources near him, who requested to stay nameless to guard relationships, say he has been supplied by far one of the best wage of his profession.
Perhaps it provides to the mystique of Joselu at Madrid?
Like a mirage within the desert, he appeared once they wanted him most — however it was by no means meant to final.
(High picture: Ina Fassbender/AFP through Getty Pictures)
