Real Madrid sign former Newcastle and Stoke flop Joselu on a season-long loan from Espanyol – more than a decade since leaving the Bernabeu – as he joins Jude Bellingham at the club
Real Madrid have announced the signing of ex-Newcastle United and Stoke City striker Joselu on a season-long loan from La Liga side Espanyol.
The 33-year-old endured a torrid two-year spell on Tyneside with the Magpies, netting just six times in the Premier League in 46 appearances. That came after an even more disappointing single-season cameo for the Potters in 2015-16.
Since then however, Joselu has rejuvenated his career and shone in his native Spain with La Liga outfit Alaves before scoring 16 times in the league for Espanyol last season.
Joselu’s uptick in form saw him earn a maiden international cap for Spain earlier this year, where he bagged a brace on debut in a 3-0 win against Norway.
The ex-Stoke City man most recently grabbed the winner against Italy in the UEFA Nations League semi-final before Luis de La Fuente men’s beat Croatia on penalties in Sunday’s final.
Joselu scored his third goal in four matches for Spain in the Nations League semi-finals
Karim Benzema swapped Spain for Saudi Arabia after securing a lucrative deal with Al-Ittihad
Real Madrid have been linked with Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe as replacements upfront
Real Madrid announced the forward’s signing on Twitter on Monday, 11 years after he left the Bernabeu in 2012. His signing is the third acquisition of a former player after Fran Garcia joined from Ray Vallecano and Brahim Diaz made the move from AC Milan. However, Diaz was officially returning after a three-year loan with the Italian giants.
The ex-Newcastle man will also join Jude Bellingham in the Spanish capital after the Englishman finalised a £113 transfer from Borussia Dortmund which made him the most expensive player in British history.
Joselu’s arrival also marks the first addition to the squad in the striker position following the departure of club legend Karim Benzema this month. The Frenchman secured a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia after rejecting the chance to renew his contract with Madrid.
As a result, the club have been heavily linked with summer swoops for Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe, who are both entering the final year of their respective contracts.
The temporary addition of Joselu could indicate that Madrid president Florentino Perez is willing to wait until next summer to sign a marquee striker.
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