Nations League
From follower to Real striker: Joselus miraculous transformation
Joselu of Spain celebrates his goal to make it 2-1. photo
© Martin Meissner/AP/dpa
In Germany, Joselu has already fallen into oblivion. He was born here and has played for three Bundesliga clubs. But it’s only now that he’s getting attention.
When Joselu signed for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim eleven years ago, expectations were huge. A striker from Real Madrid’s youth academy, who was also born in Stuttgart, just 100 kilometers away – that sounded promising and generated a lot of interest.
But the then 22-year-old could not really fulfill his hopes in the Kraichgau. Five goals in 25 games was the mixed record, which is why Hoffenheim loaned the Spaniard to Eintracht Frankfurt after just one season. Although things were going better for Joselu there, the journey continued for him after just one year to Hannover 96, where it was also over after just one season.
Three clubs in three years – maybe it’s because of this inconsistency that Joselu is only remembered by a few in Germany. Only when he announced in 2012 that he wanted to take German citizenship and play for the DFB-Elf did he briefly stand in the limelight. But nothing came of it either. In the years that followed, the striker’s wanderings continued. After stints in England, Joselu returned to his homeland four years ago – but only a few people in the country of the 2010 World Cup champions took notice of this.
From nobody to star
But now the nobody in Spain has almost become a star overnight. In the Nations League semi-finals on Thursday evening, Joselu was only on the pitch for four minutes when he was already the match winner. With his goal just before the end of the 2-1 (1-1) win against Italy in Enschede, the former Bundesliga professional shot the Spaniards into the final, in which Croatia will be the opponent on Sunday (8.45 p.m. / RTL and DAZN). The third in the World Cup beat hosts Netherlands 4-2 after extra time in Rotterdam on Wednesday.
The picture of the jubilant Joselu was on the front pages of all the country’s major sports publications on Friday. “Bravissimo Joselu”, for example, was the headline in the Madrid newspaper “Marca”, and the rival newspaper “AS” wrote in large letters: “Joselu is blessed”. In the hour of success, Joselu was modest. The striker did not primarily praise himself, but the teamwork. “The team played a great game. The only thing missing was for the ball to go in. And I was just clever.”
The tide can turn so quickly in football. Joselu was recently relegated from the Primera División with Espanyol Barcelona. Now his move to record champions Real Madrid as a replacement for Frenchman Karim Benzema, who has migrated to Saudi Arabia, is practically perfect. Only details have to be clarified, in the coming week the team of world champion Toni Kroos wants to announce the transfer.
And Joselu, who only made his debut at La Roja in March, can also hope for more appearances in the national team. However, coach Luis de la Fuente will probably take the striker further as a joker. “I’ll keep betting on Joselu, he deserves it. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll play from the start (…) He only had one chance today and he converted it. That’s what make the big goalscorers,” said the coach, who should have feared for his job if he lost to Italy.
Joselu had scored twice in his first international match against Norway just minutes after coming on as a substitute – and that was the first time he really caught the attention of the Spanish football public.