Joselu says leaving Real Madrid will haunt him

Former Real Madrid striker Joselu told Iker Casillas’ podcast Bajo los Palos that his 2024 departure from the Santiago Bernabeu will weigh on him for life, recalling his late brace against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League semi‑final and his current role as Al‑Gharafa forward in Qatar.

Carlo Ancelotti called Joselu during his return to Real Madrid, and the striker said the first month was extremely difficult because the club “really put me through the wringer”. “Ancelotti rang me… And I can tell you that I had a tough time that first month,” he explained.

Despite the rough start, Joselu eventually became an important squad player, producing several decisive moments during the club’s successful campaign. He highlighted his contribution as a key factor in Real Madrid’s achievements.

The veteran Spaniard’s late brace against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League semi‑final remains a vivid memory, and he noted that supporters still bring up the match wherever he goes. “I’m in Qatar at the moment and everyone’s talking to me about the match. And we’re talking about something that happened two years ago,” he admitted.

Joselu also recalled the lengthy VAR review that preceded one of his goals, describing the delay as feeling like “half an hour”. “I’m never aware of how long the referee spent reviewing the incident on VAR. To me, it felt like an eternity – half an hour,” he noted.

He argued that the greatest pressure in his career came while playing for smaller clubs, where a slump could jeopardise 60 per cent of his contract and future employment. “The pressure comes from knowing that if you hit a slump, 60 per cent of your contract goes up in smoke, and that if you have a bad year, nobody will want you the following year,” he said.

Comparing the pressure of fighting relegation to competing for trophies at Real Madrid, Joselu said the latter felt like a privilege. “After all, I’ve been in modest teams and… you know that from the very first league match, your aim is just avoid relegation… Winning a title? Well, I’d say, bless that pressure,” he reflected.

He admitted that leaving Real Madrid remains emotionally difficult, describing his time at the Santiago Bernabeu as an experience he will never replicate elsewhere. “The decision to leave Madrid will weigh on me for the rest of my life because what I’ve experienced there, I’ll never experience again,” he said, adding that his family’s future now takes precedence over any sporting considerations.

Photos of Joselu’s moments were provided by David Ramos and Mateo Villalba Sanchez, both capturing the scenes he described.