Qatar contract for Joselu Mato revealed – Real Madrid believe striker is making 'mistake'

Real Madrid is ready to lose Joselu Mato this summer, after the veteran forward agreed terms with Qarari side Al-Gharafa on a two-year deal with an option to extend for a third. The Blancos feel that he is making a mistake.

That is second Relief, who say that from Real Madrid they feel that it is a mistake to prioritize the money to extend his spell in the club, after only one year in the first team. One of the reasons he will leave is likely to be increased competition from Endrick Felipe and Kylian Mbappe, but the report goes on to say that Joselu would start “more than I thought”.

If Espanyol hold Al-Gharafa to ransom, Real Madrid will exercise his €1.5m purchase option and he sells it to the Qatari side for the same price, which allows him one last courtesy. Joselu will earn around 10 million euros a year, significantly more than he earns at the Santiago Bernabeu, and indeed probably much more than he ever will. For some time he has been thinking of looking for one last big contract in the Middle East, with agent Jose Redondo traveling to Saudi Arabia with this in mind. In the end, Pini Zahavi helped mediate the discussions, and it didn't hurt for the 34-year-old.

While Real Madrid won't be looking for a replacement for Joselu – they have plenty of competition for minutes up front – it doesn't rob Carlo Ancelotti of one of his most effective weapons last season. None of his other attacks are natural points of reference that try to strengthen a defense, and none have the aerial presence that he has yet, although they have plenty of weapons with which to break the opposition.

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