The Real Madrid loanee is playing his most productive football, but the cold and snowy stays in England have given him peace of mind at the highest level.
Real Madrid’s number 14 has a very familiar face and name. Bellingham calls him Peter Crouch, in his passport he is José Luis Mato Sanmartín and in his blouse he says Joselu. Yes, this Joselu. ” That’s me,” he says with a smile. while settling into a sofa at the educational base of the Spanish national team: the former Stoke and Newcastle striker who has a higher goal ratio than the rest of the squad and who identifies them for the biggest club in the world.
Joselu, who is already the most sensible goalscorer in one season at Madrid than in three in the Premier League, has embarked on a long adventure and says he is improving, even if he doesn’t feel that way. Now he lives more special moments than before, his good luck being an example of perseverance, of never wasting hope. Besides, he insists, England was fun.
Born in Stuttgart and raised in Galicia, Joselu left home at the age of 11, starting at Celta Vigo before joining Madrid’s youth academy. He made his debut in May 2011, scoring from Cristiano Ronaldo’s pass seconds after coming on, but he won’t play any more league games for them until 2023: 8 clubs, 3 countries and 12 years later. He was two days shy of his 33rd birthday when he won his first international cap abroad: 3 1/2 minutes later, he had scored. Twice. Seven months after his first season in the Champions League, he is preparing for Tuesday’s quarter-final against Manchester City, the league’s best and the last to win its first first-club trophy.
Joselu turned 34 last month. This has been Joselu’s dream, but he had never imagined it. And not much in England either. Half of his 68 Premier League games have been played as a replacement for groups that finished ninth, tenth and 13th. He met a coach, Mark Hughes, who wasn’t convinced. And he admits that there have been some tough moments mentally. But if it was simple to lament, to go out to take revenge, and now?!, instead, there is affection. “I don’t forget any of the clubs with affection,” says Joselu, and as he listens to her communicate and laugh, between enthusiasm and occasional English, he believes it too.
“They were clever moments,” he says, betting on the real Peter Crouch and proving that he is bigger than Lionel Messi: when he scored against Norwich in 2016, after all, it was a cold, rainy Wednesday afternoon at Stoke. Joselu laughed, “there’s only one Messi, but it’s true that at Stoke everyone hated the game. It was a test, it was windy, the corners were open. Boxing Day, ice cream. . . No one wanted to come. It’s been a smart year: we finished ninth, beat City and United and reached the semi-finals of the Cup, wasting the consequences at Anfield. . . I’ve played with some smart players: Crouch, [Marko] Arnautovic, Jonny Walters. . . “
According to one story, Joselu told the Stoke Sentinel that while Ronaldo was a “hero”, Walters was a “superman”, his appearance suggests that this is possibly not entirely true. “I don’t forget to say that, but I loved Jonny Walters. He fought, he committed, physically he was a beast, he scored more than a hundred goals. And Crouch was an amazing guy, now he calls me Crouchy because I’m a wonderful striker who likes crosses. Others followed. Jude and he’s blocked, but he’s 2 meters tall, I’m only 1. 92 meters tall. Crouch was a lot of fun and helped me a lot. Wow, I had a great time with him.
“It was hard [to leave] because I knew everyone who was there, but they were looking for a style replacement. I’m still Stoke. They just can’t get back to the Premier League. The players are gone, but I have a lot of friends there. My wedding was attended by other people from Stoke and also other people from Newcastle.
And how did they behave? Joselu bursts out laughing. ” Well, well. . . At 2 a. m. , I walk into the bar. »
And yet, deprived of continuity, Joselu has scored only seven goals in two seasons at Newcastle. Sitting here to constitute Spain, for which he has almost scored in 293 minutes of celebration with a goal every 53 minutes, those of the Premier League. The years seem a long way off. To have gone from there to Madrid, to prepare to face City at the Santiago Bernabeu, is almost surreal.
“When I left Newcastle I signed for Alaves, a club that is still not at Newcastle’s level. He had 4 years [on his contract with Newcastle]. It would have been easy to say that I don’t fall. Maybe I would have just stayed. They gave me my money back, they didn’t play. But I wanted to compete, to feel myself. I didn’t have any challenges. That experience in England and three good seasons at Alaves and then Espanyol helped me get to where I am today.
Joselu scored 11, 11 and 14 goals at Alaves, 17 at Espanyol and then last summer, after the departure of Karim Benzema and with Kylian Mbappe’s most likely arrival in a season, he returned on loan to Madrid. His arrival with an Englishman is reminiscent of his adventure in Britannia: Joselu and Bellingham a bit like Crouchy and Jermain Defoe. “Jude is a different class. Physically, he’s incredible. He’s very humble, a wonderful partner. From the beginning he tried to speak Spanish. he touched everyone’s heart: he is very special. I learned English when I was there and we communicated a lot; I’m looking to help.
“Jude can get whatever he wants. He has a chance to be vital for England and Madrid, pfff, for as long as he wants. He gives us a plus, not only as a passing scorer. Everyone we face would prefer to eliminate it. ” Still, when he was out, we kept winning. Madrid have a solution for every situation, a variety that is vital. Even within the same eleven, the coach can replace things. [Carlo] Ancelotti sees things you don’t. Seen. Minute 20: “You pass through here, you pass through there. “
One of those who responds is him. Strikers are back in fashion: even Pep Guardiola has Erling Haaland. “We’ve been there, hidden, and that number has come back, so I’m making the most of it,” Joselu says. “Football is evolving: if Guardiola Si played the same taste for five years, the effects wouldn’t be so good. The magic of football is that things don’t stay the same.
Sign up for Football Daily
Start your evenings with The Guardian’s take on world football.
After the Newsletter
“I see myself as another player, an alternative. No one on the team has my profile. Sometimes they bring in a centre-forward to ‘fix’ the centre-backs. Or you can throw in more crosses. We’ve won Wide Positions matches. It’s a role, the coach tells me.
Joselu has scored 4, 4 and 3 in England. We have more possession, more attacks, but a lot of pressure,” he said. “Michael Owen came here as a Ballon d’Or winner and you fought. You’ve been proven right, because one day you’re there, the next day you miss two opportunities and. . . »
Joselu’s hand drops. The challenge in Madrid is repercussion. It’s very demanding, exposed. He scored twice against Madrid and it’s global. I’m in Madrid, with Spain, and it’s like it’s normal, but it’s not normal. . Very few people get to do that. Not everyone can be a footballer, in front of 80,000 other people, in front of everyone. It’s not as simple as they think. ” Madrid did it”, “You scored”. that. ” You still don’t hear much in the stadium, if the game stops for a minute, you hear everything. Not suitable for printing. And you’re thinking, “Wait. . . »
“But I think everything I’ve been through, especially overseas, has helped me. I came to England after playing in Alemania. Es another country, another culture, and that has given me a lot. Aprendí. Me gave me the peace of mind, the peace of mind to say, ‘Okay, I missed a penalty today, but it doesn’t matter. ‘In the next educational session, we’ll come back to that. There are players who can’t understand those things, outside of their heads.
Would it have been you a few years ago? There’s a deep inspiration. “Maybe in the last season at Newcastle,” admits Joselu. “I wasn’t playing. You have a chance and if you lose it, it might take you 3 OR 4 games before you play again. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten to that point, although there have been some bad moments. It’s inevitable.
“When I made my debut in Spain, my wife cried tears of joy for everything we had been through. It’s even more valued when it takes that long. I’m not 20 years old, I have a career. Cold, snow. rain. And now here we are. We’re home. My wife’s family is here in Madrid, very close, our home is here. We’ve never had that.
“Physically, I’m going through one of the most productive times of my career. I just turned 34 and I’m not sorry. Fifteen years go by and no one would sign a 34-year-old, but now they do: €30 million, €40 million, two-year contracts. You replace your habits, life replaces. I have two children: you put them to bed at nine o’clock and go to bed. You adapt to what your body asks of you. Getting here at 33, 34 years old is not easy and I’m not going to stop it now. I’ve got a lot of football left.