Joselu is close to leaving Real Madrid after receiving an offer to play for Al Gharafa in Qatar.
The 34-year-old looked set to extend his stay at the Santiago Bernabeu after The Athletic reported that the club decided to exercise their option to sign the striker on a permanent deal from Espanyol.
However, Madrid are working with Espanyol to activate the €1.5million purchase option for Joselu and then sell him for the same amount. Alternatively, they may allow Espanyol to handle the sale directly. The club’s directors are keen to facilitate his departure following his impressive season.
Joselu is now set to leave the Spanish capital after receiving a proposal to play in the Middle East.
His impending exit has come as a great surprise, as manager Carlo Ancelotti had planned for him to be part of the team next season.
The Qatari offer is expected to significantly improve Joselu’s salary compared to what he was earning in Spain.
He joined Madrid last summer on loan for an initial fee of €500,000 ($548,000, £428,000), with an option to make the transfer permanent for €1.5m at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Joselu scored 17 goals and provided three assists last season, making 18 starts across all competitions. He is highly valued at Madrid for his professionalism.
His standout moment was a decisive brace in the late comeback win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final second leg in Madrid.
Joselu previously played for Madrid’s ‘B’ team, Castilla, from 2009-2012, making two appearances for the senior team in his first stint at the club, scoring twice.
He netted 16 goals in 33 La Liga appearances for Espanyol in the 2022-23 campaign, despite the team’s relegation, before returning to Madrid in 2023.
Joselu’s departure could coincide with another Madrid exit, with defender Nacho set to join Al Qadsiah when his contract expires at the end of June. The Athletic reported that he has signed his contract with the Saudi Arabian club.
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