Who is Joselu? Meet the unlikely hero who secured Real Madrid in the 23/24 Champions League final

Real Madrid is guaranteed the final of the 23/24 Champions League and the person largely responsible for this feat goes by the name of Joselu. With two goals, the Spanish striker turned the game around for Los Blancos in the final stretch of the match against Bayern and ensured the team’s survival in heroic fashion at the Santiago Bernabéu. Now, Real Madrid will go to Wembley to play the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund.

➡️ Borussia Dortmund beats PSG in France and is in the Champions League final after 11 years; see the goal

Joselu’s career

The Real Madrid hero is already in the final phase of his career: at 34 years old, the striker has already played in Germany, England and Spain itself, however, he has never had much prominence. Joselu was never recognized for being a very skilled striker and goal scorer, but currently, it is possible to say that he is at the peak of his career: in 23/24, the center forward is approaching the highest scoring season of his career, with 17 balls in the net.

His career began at Celta de Vigo. A declared Real Madrid fan, he spent time at the club at the beginning of his career, but without shine: his best season was at Real Madrid Castilla, Los Blancos’ B team, when he scored 40 goals in 72 matches over two seasons.

From then on, the striker traveled to Hoffenheim, Frankfurt and Hannover in Germany, a country where the opponent also has nationality. After scoring 29 goals in three seasons in the Bundesliga, Joselu headed to England, where he played for Stoke City, and later for Newcastle. In between spells, the merengue hero was loaned to Deportivo La Coruna. None of the passages were very prominent.

Joselu left Newcastle in a low mood: he scored just seven goals in two seasons for the Magpies. In the 19/20 season, the center forward returned to Spain, this time, to play for Espanyol. In the Basque country, he found his way to goals again and transferred to Espanyol, who, interestingly, are the current owners of the striker’s pass.

After the number nine stood out for the Barcelona team, Real Madrid got in touch looking for a loan. It was the golden opportunity for the striker: at the height of his career, to return to his favorite club. However, with Karim Benzema’s shadow in the Bernabéu dressing room, it would be difficult to fully meet expectations.

With the Merengue shirt, Joselu has 17 goals and three assists in 46 games this season. After his performance against Bayern, it is possible to say that Joselu has already lived up to the hopes set upon his arrival in the Spanish capital.