What a night of May 8, 2024. What a day it was at the stadium Santiago Bernabéuwhere a Madrid player, a young player, a supporter on the pitch, made history by scoring two goals Bayern Munich to qualify Real Madrid for another Champions League final. Yes, we are talking about it Joselu Mato (Stuttgart, 1990). A few days later, he left with Spain for Germany, his native country, to conquer Europe again.
Joselu is untouchable for Luis de la Fuente. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the the real Madrid or in the Al-Gharafa Qatari because he is always on calls. Something that has been repeated since the native of Rioja has been national coach. He always called him and he always answered.
Question: There are those who doubt, but you continue to be essential for Luis de la Fuente.
Answer: Here we are a family. De la Fuente created a very special bond with all of us and that was very important. I’m very grateful to continue coming to Spain and to be here with my teammates. It’s true that I went to a minor league, but I’m still competing and getting more minutes. Here we are playing the Asian Champions League and we are facing good players, so the rhythm is still there. I feel great physically and emotionally and I’m happy to be able to be here and contribute.
Q: You now face Denmark and Serbia in Spain. Is the goal to reach first place in the group?
A: That’s the objective. We know Serbia and we know it will be difficult. We have a long week to prepare well for the matches and where we can get to know each other better.
Q: How much do you miss Carvajal and Rodrigo?
A: Plot. We sat together at the dining room table and they were two players we talked to a lot. They are very important footballers both in their clubs and here. We miss them from the first day we focused. We express our support and that we are with them.
Q: Carvajal’s injury hit you very close to home.
A: He’s my family and I spent a lot of time with him. We shared many moments both at Real Madrid and with the Spanish team. When this happened to him, it was like if it had happened to me, I would have changed for him without a doubt. That was the first reaction I had and that feeling crossed my mind. I was very screwed for two days, me and my wife. We were with Dani on Sunday and we saw her desire to continue and her desire to recover. It changed our mentality a bit and taught us all a lesson. There is one less day left before his return.
Q: Where were you when you were injured?
A: At home in Qatar, I watch the match. My wife was already in bed because there are two more hours there and we got up very early to take the kids to school. I saw the match and it was a very hard blow. My wife and I didn’t sleep at all because we were talking to Real Madrid’s medical services. We didn’t want to disturb Dani and Daphne -Carvajal’s partner-.
Q: Have you seen the injury repeat itself?
A: Yes and it’s not pleasant at all. This is the worst scenario a footballer can put themselves in. The only positive thing is that his desire and ambition to come back will help him recover very well.
Q: So no one should doubt that Carvajal will come back like a beast?
A: That’s how it is. Ultimately, everyone who knows him at all knows that he was sad, but he really wants to start getting better and for everything to move forward. His ambition remains intact and will teach us a lesson when it comes time to return.
Q: Speaking of you. How is your experience in Qatar?
A: It was a very good experience. I found a league that is growing a lot, recruiting young players and giving new impetus to the competition. It’s different from Europe, but my family and I are very happy. My children have adapted very well and daily life is very positive.
Q: Tell us what football is like in Qatar.
A: It’s different. Almost no fans go to the field, but the league is integrating more and more foreign players, which increases its competitiveness. The league is growing more and more and very positive reports are coming out. Plus, we’re playing the Asian Champions League and you’re playing teams that have a bit more potential.
Q: The Arab League is better known after what happened in recent years. That of Qatar is less well known.
A: With the signings they are making, the Qatar League is growing. Now, for example, we have incorporated Sergio Rico, Rodri from Betis also went there… I think we already have 14 or 15 Spaniards in the League and little by little it is growing. It’s a pretty competitive league.
Q: How is Sergio Rico?
A: Good, very good. I came with great desire. He has been out of competition for almost two years. I had the chance to have a good chat with him and explain a little about everything that had happened and how he had been feeling over the last few months when he had already started training. He wants to compete, to let people see that he is in very good physical shape and that he is mentally ready to play. The other day, during an Asian Champions match, he played the full 90 minutes. He is a boy with a very cold head and very clear things. This surprised me for the better.
Q: Coming back to you, it’s happening step by step, but when does Joselu see himself with the Spanish team? The World Cup is on the horizon…
A: Well, the World Cup is very far away. I appreciate every call and I’m going to take it step by step. Always grateful to be there, to the coach for the trust. I will be there until the coach decides. For me, it’s a pride to be here and to be able to represent my country every time I come. I’m happy and happy to be able to experience this with these great colleagues that I have and, well, there will be Joselu until it’s time.
Q: And how can someone who fought so hard to achieve his dream of returning to Real Madrid leave in a year?
A: Football has things that cannot be explained. I had the chance to play for the team of my life, for the best club in the world, and to achieve things that were surely inexplicable years ago. I knew I wasn’t 25 either and that moments come to an end for everyone. World-class players have passed through Madrid and also had to leave. These are decisions that we make and I thought it was time, because I am of a certain age and all the people who arrived at Real Madrid, young people, very hungry people… It’s true that the participation was not going to be the same. And I think you have to take advantage of opportunities and seize them at the right time.
Q: Have you heard too little about it?
A: Yes of course. I would have liked to have been 25 and able to stay in Madrid for five or six years, but in the end I had the chance to realize my childhood dream. For me, having spent a season at Real Madrid and achieving what we have achieved is the best thing that has happened to me in my life.
Q: When you decided to go to Qatar, what did Madrid tell you?
A: They were very happy with me. They were going to support the decision I made if an offer came through. For my family and I, it was a good escape. Madrid were very happy that I continued, but they also understood that with the signings they had made in the first positions, they didn’t need anything else. They told me that if I made the decision to leave, they were not going to recruit any more players, because they already had Endrick and Mbappé. Those were very hard moments, because it was a very difficult decision, because I was very happy here. But football has those things. You have to enjoy the moments and I knew it was time to take a new step.
Q: The situation was not easy with Espanyol and Madrid did not hesitate to let him go. What were those days like?
A: Easy or not easy. There was a contract involved. Madrid exercised a purchase option already signed a year ago. I understand there will be people who think it’s not enough, but the deal was done over 11 or 12 months ago. This is what the two clubs agreed at the time. Espanyol didn’t agree with that, but Madrid behaved like a big club and tried to help me at all times.
Q: I imagine you watch Real Madrid from Qatar. How do you see it? Because right away we’re talking about a crisis…
A: The blessed crises of Madrid, which wins every weekend. They are in an adaptation process, because important players have left and the beginnings are always difficult. Mbappé was not going to arrive and score 25 goals on the first day of the championship, but he is getting better. They have an excellent coach and, little by little, we are seeing a better Madrid. Anyone can have good and bad games, but they will finish the season winning titles, that’s for sure.
Q: Do you understand the criticism of Ancelotti?
A: Ancelotti is the best coach Madrid has ever had. It is not possible that he will be criticized for two or three matches. But hey, we already know Madrid’s requirements.
Q: As a Real Madrid player, and no longer a Madrid player, do you think Madrid should sign a full-back to replace Carvajal?
A: I don’t go there anymore. These are decisions that the club must make. It is clear that the loss of Carva is very significant. There is no player like him. I think the season he had last year was incredible. Out of ten, I think we can give him an 11 and win some titles. Madrid has a full-back in the person of Lucas, who is doing very well, who is efficient and who can replace Dani. So what the club decides…
Q: You said Carvajal had an 11th season. Who are you giving the Ballon d’Or to?
A: I gave it to him. I’ve said it many times, but I don’t think my vote is worth it. He gave 100%.
