On the last day of the 2010/11 season, Joselu Mato had his breakthrough moment. Or so he imagined. He had recently turned 21, had devoted his teenaged years to climbing the ladder of professional football and to making it in the hardest of positions.
He wanted to be a striker at the most decorated club in the history of the European game. Joselu, who was born in Germany because his parents were working there, did most of his growing up in Galicia, Spain’s western corner.
He duly enrolled at local club Celta Vigo. He made a good enough impression that Real Madrid scouted and signed him as a prospect, putting him into the upper levels of their youth academy.
When Jose Mourinho joined Madrid as head coach in 2010, he was handed a positive report on Joselu’s performances for Real Madrid B.