Real Madrid signed Joselu on loan this past summer, knowing they needed at least a backup striker and someone who could be an out-and-out 9, even if they planned on starting Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior as two forwards ahead of new attacking midfielder Jude Bellingham in an experimental Carlo Ancelotti formation.
The new formation has certainly paid off for Real Madrid, with the Merengues dominating LaLiga and now set to enter the Champions League Final for the second time in three years.
But they would not have made it to the final without Joselu, who was a relative unknown on an international scale – or even derided by Premier League fans for his awkward time at Newcastle.
Yet Spanish football fans recognize that Joselu is a top-class player. The Real Madrid academy product took on a significantly lower salary to return to his childhood club as a backup, and he has been indispensable in his role.
Joselu scored twice as a substitute within 10 minutes of entering the pitch, turning a 1-0 deficit against Bayern Munich in the second leg of the Champions League Final into a certified 2-1 Real Madrid Remontada at the Santiago Bernabeu.
After lifting up Espanyol and Alaves in LaLiga before both clubs’ eventual relegations to the Segunda, Joselu is now playing for the biggest – and best, in terms of results this season – club in Spanish football.
Now, Joselu is on the cusp of playing a key role in Real Madrid winning the Champions League title. He has scored nine goals in the league, now has a brace in the Champions League, and had a combined 30 goals in the previous two LaLiga seasons.
Joselu is rated highly by Real Madrid fans and LaLiga observers. With his great performance on the international stage in the Champions League knockouts, hopefully the 34-year-old has earned a bigger reputation globally.
He is a great player and offers even more than goals with his leadership, world-class aerial ability, and underrated creation with his hold-up play.
Calling someone the most underrated player in the world is highly subjective, and the honor probably belongs to someone in an obscure league. But at least at the elite level of the game with clubs like Real Madrid, Joselu is definitely underrated and overlooked.
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