Real Madrid have activated their buy option on Joselu Mato, although the 34-year-old is expected to leave the club in the coming weeks. The Spain international was on loan at Los Blancos this season, but they had an option to buy him permanently for €1.5m valid until the end of June.
As per Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid have executed that option. Joselu has agreed a two-year deal with an option for a third at Qatari side Al-Gharafa, and Real Madrid are expected to sell him on for exactly the same price as a gesture of good will to Joselu. Marca add that while Real Madrid made him a one-year contract offer, they could not get near the €8.5m per annum that Joselu will earn for a minimum of two years.
🚨⚪️ Understand Real Madrid have just activated the buy option from Espanyol for Joselu, worth €1.5m.
↪️🇶🇦 Real Madrid will formally sell Joselu to Qatari side Al Gharafa for the same price.
Joselu will sign two year deal with option at Al Gharafa, as exclusively revealed. pic.twitter.com/wHa76CvaFc
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 27, 2024
They had been keen to retain Joselu, and those at Valdebebas had let it be known that they feel Joselu is making a mistake by leaving Real Madrid in search of a big contract. However after Espanyol Chairman Mao Ye revealed publicly that Al-Gharafa would have to negotiate for Joselu this summer, Real Madrid decided to make matters easier for the veteran striker.
