Former Newcastle United ‘keeper Shay Given has opened up about his ex-teammate, Joselu and his meteoric rise to the top after leaving St James Park.
People often use ‘The Mandela Effect‘ as a way to suggest we have moved into a parallel universe, I use the fact that Joselu is now a goal-scoring Spain international who just re-signed for Real Madrid as mine.
Joselu, much like Joelinton, was ridiculed while at Newcastle for his goal scoring ability, or indeed, lack thereof. The Spaniard managed just six goals in 46 outings for the Magpies but Rafa Benitez stuck by his fellow countryman and continued to play him.
Rafa Benitez persisted with Joselu at Newcastle – he saw what we missed
Clearly, Rafa knew then what we all know now … there’s actually a good player in there. Things just didn’t click for Joselu in England. It wasn’t just his time at Newcastle that saw him unable to hit a barn door from point-blank range, his time at Stoke, where he played with Shay Given, as much the same, although he managed four goals in 22 appearances for The Potters.
Since moving back to Spain Joselu has found his shooting boots scoring 36 goals for Alaves which got him a move to Espanyol where he notched another 16 goals in 33 appearances.
That form earned him a call up to the Spain national side where he marked his debut with two goals. He currently has three goals in four International games. Stunning. On top of that, Real Madrid have now moved to bring him home to the club where his senior career began.
Joselu made one senior appearance for Real scoring in that game, before heading off to Hoffenheim.
Along with the aforementioned Joelinton, this is one of the best redemption stories in football. Interesting how both played for Hoffenheim and Newcastle, eh?
Shay Given says Joselu’s career path is a great message to kids
Now Shay Given has spoken about Joselu in an interview with The Athletic saying: “It’s almost like a Roy of the Rovers story. One day you’re on the bench at Stevenage. Close your eyes and when you wake up you’re playing for Spain and signing for Real Madrid.”
“He wasn’t a regular starter,” says Given. “You’d probably look at similarities with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who was at Stoke and, the next thing you know, he’s playing for Bayern Munich, challenging at the top of the Bundesliga as one of their star players.
“It’s a remarkable turnaround (for Joselu) and you have to give him credit for sticking with it and believing in himself. It’s a long career, a journey, and a message to kids that if it doesn’t work out at one club there are always opportunities somewhere else.”
Never give up on your dreams, kids … and adults for that matter.
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