Joselu, the hero of Real Madrid’s feat: ‘This day is on par with the birth of my children’

There were ten minutes left in the game and things were not looking good for Real Madrid, who were losing 1-0 against Bayern and were out of the Champions League final thanks to the 2-2 score in the first leg.

Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti had no choice but to take his chances and brought on Joselu and Brahim Díaz for Federico Valverde and Rodrygo Goes. And went
Joselu, who curiously was born in Germany, the one who performed the umpteenth miracle experienced at the Santiago Bernabéu, the stadium where the white club feels invincible.

Barely seven minutes after stepping onto the grass, and only five after the woodwork prevented the Bavarians from sentencing, Joselu took advantage of a rebound from Manuel Neuer from Vinicius’ shot, the only error by the German goalkeeper who was the protagonist of a spectacular match, to finish the tying goal into the net (88).

And with the game heading towards extra time, in the first minute of stoppage time, the Bernabéu crowd went into ecstasy when they saw the tall center forward (1.92 m) head into the net a cross from Antonio Rüdiger in a dubious position, which He postponed the celebration for a couple of minutes until the VAR declared the goal valid.

(Also read: Video | Real Madrid turned it around and goes to the Champions League final: the goals)

“One dreams of having nights like this, in my dreams they are not so beautiful, but it is true that as a striker one dreams of goals like today’s,” Joselu declared after the game.

“I came to help and I spoke with the coach at the beginning of the season about what I could give to the team. In the end I am happy for what I can contribute and for having won a league and played in the Champions League final,” added Joselu, who Two years ago he experienced the final in Paris as an amateur.

“I had the opportunity to experience that final supporting the team and now I will be able to experience it from within,” said the protagonist of the pass to the 18th final of the highest European club competition (with the record of 14 titles and the possibility now of a fifteenth ), who was not one of the team’s big stars.

Son of Galician emigrants in Germany, he was born in Stuttgart on March 27, 1990. He did not return to Spain until the family moved to Vigo (in Galicia, northwest) when
Joselu was four years old. He started playing soccer for Celta, until Real Madrid signed him in 2009 to be part of La Fábrica, as the white team’s academy is known.

“I think my wife would give me permission now to put this day on par with the birth of my children,” added the attacker.

He made his debut with the white first team in 2011, replacing Karim Benzema in a match against Almería in which he scored when he had barely been on the field for two minutes. Despite this, he did not establish himself in the first team and began a journey that took him back to his native Germany (Hoffenheim in 2012-2013, Eintracht the following year, Hannover a season later) and England (Stoke City and Newcastle). In 2019, Deportivo Alavés recovered him for the Spanish championship and in three seasons he became the top scorer of the Vitorian team in the first division.

In 2022 Espanyol signed him, but despite his 16 goals he could not avoid the Barcelona club’s relegation. However, Real Madrid, who were looking for a substitute forward before the current season to give their starters a rest, acquired his services through a loan.

And in his thirties, Joselu is experiencing the best moment of his career, which has even led him to play with the Spanish team and be one of coach Luis de la Fuente’s options for the next Euro Cup.

The numbers support him: 9 goals in the Spanish League and another five in the Champions League, although none with as much value as the double achieved this Wednesday. Real Madrid has not yet decided whether it will keep the ‘9’ next season, who curiously is the brother-in-law of another white player, Dani Carvajal. But with performances like this Wednesday’s, there is little doubt that Joselu will live, at least, another year in white.

SPORTS WITH AFP