Joselu has decided not to remain at Real Madrid for the upcoming season, as the club prepares to welcome new signings Kylian Mbappe and Endrick. According to COPE, despite Real Madrid’s willingness to pay the €1.5 million (£1.3m/$1.6m) option to convert his loan from Espanyol into a permanent transfer, Joselu is seeking a change of scenery due to the imminent arrivals of Mbappe and Endrick. Fabrizio Romano reports Joselu is expected to move to Qatari side Al Gharafa.
Joselu, who returned to Real Madrid last summer on loan after standout performances with Alaves and Espanyol in La Liga, played a crucial role as a replacement for Karim Benzema, contributing significantly to the club’s rare La Liga and Champions League double. However, with Mbappe and Endrick bolstering the attacking lineup, Joselu’s prospects for playing time at the Bernabeu would likely diminish significantly if he stayed.
During his first spell at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2012, Joselu scored in both of his only two first-team appearances against Almeria in La Liga and Ponferradina in the Copa del Rey.
In the 2023-24 season, Carlo Ancelotti developed a successful 4-3-1-2 formation, utilizing Jude Bellingham as a ‘number 10’ and Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo as central strikers. The challenge now is to maintain their effectiveness while integrating Mbappe and Endrick into the squad.
