Real Madrid fans were dreaming of a Galactico striker to add to their Jude Bellingham signing, but instead they’ll be watching a Stoke City reject.
That outcome looks almost certain now after Florentino Perez was spotted telling a supporter his team are finished in the summer transfer market.
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The fan asked Perez: “Joselu [deal] is already closed, Presi [president]?
Perez responded: “Yes, it will come next week.”
The fan then asked: “And some more will come?”
Perez said: “No.”
Former academy player Joselu will be joining £88.5million – potentially rising to £115m – Bellingham along with Fran Garcia, while Brahim Diaz is returning from his AC Milan loan.
Joselu is best known among football fans in England for his less-than-successful stints at Newcastle and Stoke.
The Spanish forward first joined the Potters for £5.75m in 2015, but was loaned out to Deportivo La Coruna after a single season that saw him score four goals in 27 games.
He was then bought by Newcastle for £5m, and barely did any better with seven goals in 52 games at St. James’ Park.
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Now though, after finishing third in LaLiga’s scoring charts last season – behind Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema, with Espanyol, he’s joining arguably the biggest team in the world.
Espanyol were relegated last season, but Joselu impressed, and finally joined the Spain national team at the age of 32.
He did his bit to help Spain to Nations League glory by scoring his penalty in the nerve-jangling shootout too.
It’s been a fairytale year for the striker, but not so much for his new fans, who were dreaming of Kylian Mbappe or Harry Kane.
Both forwards had been heavily linked with a move to the Bernabeu thanks to expiring contracts, but if Perez is true to his word, it will instead be on Joselu to fill the gaping hole left by Karim Benzema’s departure.
