From navigating through countless short-term transfers to ultimately earning a coveted starting role at Real Madrid, Joselu Mato’s career is no short of a fairytale story. Despite facing countless ups and downs in his career, the Spaniard has consistently risen to the occasion, showcasing his resilient mentality. This is the captivating life saga of the “Spanish Peter Crouch”.
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Early Life
José Luis Mato Sanmartín was born on 27th March 1990 in the German city of Stuttgart to parents Elvira and Roman Mato. The couple had a daughter as well, Irene Mato who was very close to her brother. Three years after Joselu was born, the Matos decided to relocate to the “land of rabbits”. This is where he would spend most of his life and immerse himself in the diverse Spanish culture.
Joselu took his first strides through the school hallways in Germany, but upon relocation, his academic journey was resumed in Spain. Carrying the passion for football rooted in his heart, Joselu embarked on his football career after joining the SD Silleda football club at the tender age of 9 and spent more than two years playing for the side.
His consistent ability to outshine others and net a multitude of goals caught the attention of Celta Vigo to make an offer he would not reject. He moved to his aunt’s house 80 miles away from his parent’s house at the age of 11 to simply pursue his dream of becoming a footballer. Joselu honed his football prowess and refined his skills during his tenure with the club, earning him a spot in Celta’s U-19 squad for the 2008/2009 season.
Parent’s support for his passion
Roman Mato was a writer as well as an artist. Despite his busy schedule, Joselu’s father would spend long hours in the backyard with his son where he would passionately guide and teach him about the intricacies of the beautiful game.
Joselu’s mother was a cook and owned a local restaurant in their hometown. She revealed her passion for her son’s football journey in an interview and had even promised his coaches that Joselu would always be on time for training sessions. Both of Joselu’s parents provided unwavering support to help him achieve his dreams of emulating his footballing idol, Fernando Torres.
Sibling
Joselu shares a deep sibling relationship with his sister, Irene Mato. Not much information about Irene has been disclosed. Irene is a huge fan of her brother and has been pictured attending his games.
Rise to Fame
Joselu is currently the striker for world-renowned club Real Madrid and has captivated the world with his exceptional goalscoring and finishing abilities. But the journey to the top has been far from easy. So let’s go back in time to the beginning of his football career.
Joselu made his official match debut for Celta Vigo in 2009 and slowly began to establish himself in the first team. After spending a couple of years for the Spanish side, he faced numerous transfers and loan deals to various clubs. Some notable transfers for the Spanish international were Newcastle United, Deportivo Alavés, and Espanyol.
In the 2018/19 season, Joselu ended the season as the third top-scorer for Premier League side Newcastle United amongst some big names like Florian Thauvin, Adam Armstrong, Ayoze Perez, and more.
After a successful spell in the Premier League, Joselu would make his return to the La Liga by joining Deportivo Alavés. He made a career-high 113 appearances and bagged a total of 36 goals during his time at the club.
The turning point in his career would arrive after joining Espanyol in 2022. This is where he would properly thrive and hit his prime to attract footballing powerhouses like Real Madrid and Barcelona to make offers for a transfer.
Joselu’s dream turned into reality on July 1st, 2023 after joining arguably the best team in the world, Real Madrid on a one-year loan deal. He plays alongside world-class superstars such as Jude Bellingham, Toni Kroos, Vinicius Jr., and many more. At the age of 33, Joselu seems to have rejuvenated his football career. He is now proving his worth and thriving under the experience and play style of world-class manager, Carlo Ancelloti.
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Joselu’s wife
Joselu tied the knot after a long-time relationship with flight attendant and model, Melanie Canizares in May 2016. The couple are still madly in love with each other and are currently raising two boys. Their first son, Leo Mato was born in 2017, while the second one, Lucas Mato was born 5 years later. The couple are very active on social media and constantly upload pictures of their family.
Joselu’s relationship with Carvajal
Joselu’s wife Melanie Canizares has an identical twin, Daphne Cañnzares Lagerwey, who is married to Joselu’s current teammate, Dani Carvajal. This means that Carvajal is Joselu’s brother-in-law. The two footballers share a strong bond both on and off the pitch.
Joselu and Carvajal’s father-in-law, Luismi had this to say,
“I’m the Guinness man. Do you know anyone with two sons-in-law in Real Madrid and the Spanish National Team?”
“My daughters are Real Madrid fans, I have taken care of that since they were little so that they would be happy. If they had boyfriends from Atleti they would have had a bad time with me.”
He jokingly added, “If I had more daughters, I would’ve become the FIFA President.”
Down but not out
Joselu faced one of the worst seasons of his career in his last year at Celta Vigo. The root cause of this short downfall was a long-term injury and inconsistent form. He also missed out on the opportunity to play in the U-20 World Cup for Spain. This led him to have multiple loans but his career simply did not click until he joined English side Newcastle United. After finally making a proper name for himself, Joselu joined Espanyol and started attracting the likes of world dominators Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Untold facts
What Tattoos does Joselu have?
Joselu loves to express himself through the artistry of tattoos. Both of his arms and chest are covered in meaningful black ink.
Some of his tattoos include a rose on his arm, an owl on his chest, and some writings on his body which all seem to carry a deep meaning for the striker. He also has a tattoo that looks like the logo of a football club on the back of his neck. The Spanish international has tattooed the logos of Spiderman and Captain America on his left thigh which reveal that he may be a Marvelite.
How much does Joselu earn?
Joselu’s current salary after his loan deal to Real Madrid consists of a whopping €48,077 per week package excluding bonuses. This adds up to 2.5 million euros annually.
What is Joselu’s net worth?
Joselu’s net worth in 2024 is estimated at around 19 million euros.
Note: As the exact amount has not been disclosed, the number may vary according to the source.
What is Joselu’s fifa rating?
Joselu’s overall EA FC 24 rating is 82. The further details of his EA FC 24 card are shown below.
Who is Joselu’s idol?
Joselu has always been fascinated by and idolized Spanish legend Fernando Torres since his younger years. He proudly shared a video on his Instagram where Torres had wished Joselu on his 24th birthday.
What is Joselu’s religion?
According to Joselu’s social media posts, it can be acknowledged that the Real Madrid striker is a follower of Christianity.
