May 30, (THEWILL) – Real Madrid are reportedly eyeing Newcastle’s former player, Joselu Mato, as a potential replacement for Mariano Diaz, following Espanyol’s demotion.
Diaz is set to depart the club when his contract expires in the summer, prompting Real Madrid to search for suitable alternatives in the market. The Spanish giants are now closing in on Joselu, who has a clause in his contract stating that his salary will be halved following Espanyol’s relegation to the Spanish Segunda division.
However, if Real Madrid offer him a contract matching his current earnings at his current club, Espanyol will be forced to sell him. Despite Joselu’s contract running until June 30, 2025, Real Madrid can sign him as a free agent due to Espanyol’s relegation. The 33-year-old currently earns around €3m per season, and Madrid will have to meet that salary.
Joselu began his footballing journey in Real Madrid’s youth setup and played a pivotal role as the first-choice striker for the Castilla side that achieved promotion to the Second Division in the 2011/2012 season. His impressive performances earned him a €6m move to Hoffenheim. In the ongoing season, Joselu has notched 17 goals across various competitions for Espanyol, making him the top-scoring Spaniard in La Liga with 16 goals, surpassing Alvaro Morata’s tally of 13.
His domestic success earned him a call-up to the national team by coach Luis de la Fuente, and he repaid the trust by scoring twice in a Euro 2024 qualifying match against Norway. Having made two senior appearances for Real Madrid, both resulting in goals, the club is confident in securing the transfer once the season concludes, allowing Joselu to join them for pre-season preparations.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
