Real Madrid have reportedly completed the signing of Espanyol forward Joselu on loan, according to Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
The contract is said to be signed, sealed and delivered, he will return to Madrid on a season-long loan deal.
José Luis Mato Sanmartín commonly known as Joselu was previously at Real Madrid 2009 – 2012, but he struggled to get playing time with the first team.
The former Newcastle United man saved the day for Spain in the Nations League semifinals on the 15th of June 2023.
He scored the decisive goal to hand La Roja the victory over Roberto Mancini’s Italy.
Joselu has been Espanyol’s go-to man for goals since he joined the Catalan club from Deportivo Alaves in June 2022.
The Spaniard scored 17 goals and provided 4 assists in 38 appearances for the club last term.
He would be coming as a stopgap striking option for Real Madrid after the exits of Karim Benzema and Mariano Diaz.
Los Blancos had no senior center forward in their squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and they had to swing into action to acquire Joselu.
Real Madrid will be paying a loan fee of €500,000 to Espanyol for the 33-year-old striker.
There is also a clause in the loan deal which gives room for Los Merengues to make the acquisition permanent next summer.
The buy option clause is not mandatory and it has been pegged at €1.5 million. Additionally, Joselu has accepted to slash his salary to move to Madrid.
It is said that an official announcement of the loan deal could be done this week, after his engagements with Spain in the UEFA Nations League final.
Joselu will become Real Madrid’s third signing this summer
He will become the Los Blancos third acquisition of the summer after the arrival of Fran Garcia and Jude Bellingham.
Real Madrid have also welcomed back Spaniard Brahim Diaz to the club following his three-year loan spell at AC Milan.
But Real Madrid are still in the market searching for top options in attack with high-profile names like Harry Kane, Victor Osimhen and Kylian Mbappe reportedly on the Spanish giants radar.
Harry Kane is intent on staying in England, although Daniel Levy would prefer for the Three Lions captain to join a club outside England.
For Victor Osimhen, it is uncertain if Aurelio De Laurentiis would be willing to listen to offers for the Nigerian.
Kylian Mbappe’s situation with Paris Saint Germain might make him the easier target to get, although he still has an hefty price tag.
Additionally, Real Madrid still have at the back of their minds what played out in the previous two successive times they asked for his signature.
Joselu is expected to compliment and partner Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo in attack, both players scored in Brazil’s 4-1 demolition of Guinea on the 17th of June 2023.
He would also be offering experience to the Real Madrid side who would be battling to reclaim the La Liga title which they lost to Barcelona last season.
They would also be pursuing the UEFA Champions League title amongst other trophies next season.
Joselu is a journey man as he has played for 10 clubs so far in his career, namely; Celta Vigo, Real Madrid, Hoffenheim, Eintracht Frankfurt, Hannover 96, Stoke City, Deportivo de La Coruña, Newcastle United, Deportivo Alaves and Espanyol.
The attacker has scored 148 goals and provided 39 assists in 470 matches thus far in his career.
