Fanboy to saviour: the Joselu saga Premium
The Hindu
Joselu Mato's journey from Real Madrid fan to hero, leading the team to Champions League glory.
He was in Paris two years ago, donning the all-white jersey with the number two on his back, referring to his brother-in-law and one of the captains of his favourite club.
He cheered in ecstasy from the stands with his father and thousands of fans as Real Madrid lifted its unmatched fourteenth UEFA Champions League trophy.
Little did he know the curious ways fate works and the path it would take him. Fast forward to the present, Joselu Mato is the hero and saviour for millions of Madridistas around world after he led the latest edition of famed Real remontada to knock out Bayern Munich in the semifinal of this year’s edition of the European championship, booking a place for his side in June’s final showdown at the Wembley.
It was not easy for Joselu, who is currently on his second stint at the Bernabeu. Born in Stuttgart, Germany, to Spanish parents, Joselu moved to Spain at a young age.
After starting his career with Celta Vigo, he was bought by Real Madrid in 2009, Joselu started his career in white with Castilla, the Real Madrid youth team, where he was the top scorer in the 2010-11 season. He made his first team debut in 2011, replacing the same Karim Benzema whose departure in 2023 paved the way for his return to white, and scored almost immediately.
While his first team appearances remained limited owing to star-studded line-up that was always the case with Real Madrid, he showed his mettle with Castilla, netting 26 times to become the top scorer in Spanish third division and earning his team a promotion to the second division.
While his performances turned eyes in Europe, he could not find a permanent spot in the Madrid first team and was eventually sold to Bundesliga’s TSG Hoffenheim in 2012. And what seemed to be a promising career started to wane.