This morning, Real Madrid presented Joselu, the 33-year-old striker who was a former youth player and who has been loaned out by Espanyol for one season, with a purchase option. The Galician footballer is the fourth signing for the Whites this summer, after Fran García, Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham.
Joselu will wear the number 14 shirt, which indicates that Karim Benzema’s nine is still free, an indication that Real Madrid is still exploring the possibility of replacing the last Ballon d’Or with a more renowned ‘killer’ than Joselu. Harry Kane is the most desired but the signing of him does not seem easy at all due to the high price that Tottenham puts on him, some 130 million euros.
In his welcoming speech to Joselu, Florentino Pérez highlighted Joselu’s career as one of the great goalscorers to come from the Madrid academy, La Fábrica. “You have scored 190 goals as a professional in three major leagues (Premier, Bundesliga and LaLiga), you are the all-time top scorer for Alavés and the last national Zarra, with 16 goals scored for Espanyol,” recalled the president.
Joselu responded with a very short speech that he had written: “I have dreamed of this moment since the day I left. I am very excited. Wearing this shield on my chest is the greatest honor a person can experience. Hala Madrid”.
In his press conference, which he addressed very calmly, the Galician forward who left Real Madrid in 2012 assured that “asking my wife and children for forgiveness, today is one of the happiest days of my life.” Regarding not wearing the number 9, he did not give it much importance: “I wore the 9 at Castilla many years ago. The number here is secondary. I am proud to wear any number because this is the best club in the world and here are the best players,” he said.
Joselu made a profession of Madridista faith: “This is the club of my life. I have never hidden that I am a Madridista and throughout my career I have carried the values ??that I have been taught here. In life you have to be as natural as possible”, he stated .
Joselu was also reminded that last year he was in Paris supporting Madrid in the Champions League final: “I was there supporting a relative.” (He is Carvajal’s brother-in-law. He is married to the sister of the Leganés winger).
Regarding whether he is concerned about Madrid signing a starting striker, Joselu assured that “it is not up to me to say if more people will come or not. I am not here to replace anyone, but to do my bit, to enjoy “Karim is one of the best. We all know Benzema’s level, but I come here to do another type of job. I haven’t spoken to the coach, but I know the player I am and I will adapt to what he asks of me. Now I have to assimilate what has happened and I need a few days of vacation,” he said.
Joselu was optimistic: “I’m going to give my best and what a striker always wants is to score goals. We have a squad for other teammates to help and I’ve scored goals throughout my career and I think that will continue to be the case now.”