Jude Bellingham a 'different gravy', says Madrid striker Joselu

Real Madrid striker Joselu Mato praised team-mate Jude Bellingham for his humility, saying he was convinced "he can achieve anything he sets his mind to" in the world of football, hours ahead of a date with Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals.

"Jude is different gravy. Physically he is unbelievable. He's very humble, a great teammate. From the beginning, he tried to speak Spanish. He has touched everyone's heart. He is very special," he said.

"He can achieve anything he sets his mind to. He has the potential to be really important for England and for Real Madrid for as long as he wants. He gives us something more, not just as a goalscorer. Everyone we face would rather take him out," he added in an interview with 'The Guardian'.

Joselu defended the figure of the No 9 so potent in his rival, Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, with the presence of Norwegian Erling Haaland.

"We were always there, hidden, and that figure is back again. I'm making the most of it. Football is evolving. If Guardiola played the same style for five years, the results wouldn't be as good. The magic of football is that things don't stay the same," he said.

In his case, Joselu considers himself "a different player" in the Real Madrid squad, "an alternative". He is satisfied with what he is experiencing on his return to the 'Merengues', now 34 years old and making the most of every minute to score goals.

 

April 8, 2024

"Nobody in the squad has my profile. Sometimes a centre-forward is used to pin down the centre-backs. Or I can allow more crosses to be put in. It's an important role, the coach tells me that," he confessed.

"The problem at Madrid is the repercussion. It's very demanding, you're exposed. You score a brace against Madrid and it's worldwide. I'm at Madrid, with Spain, and it's as if it's normal, but it's not normal. Very few can do this. Not everyone can be a footballer, play in front of 80,000 people, with the world watching. It's not as easy as they think", he said.

Pending the club's decision to exercise its option to buy Espanyol for 1.5 million euros and keep him in the squad for next season, Joselu's only thought is to continue playing in the top flight.

"Physically, I'm in one of the best moments of my career. I've just turned 34, but I don't feel it. Fifteen years ago nobody would sign someone who was 34, but now they do. You change your habits, you mature. Life changes. I have two children, you tuck them in at nine o'clock and you go to bed. You adapt to what your body asks of you. It's not easy to get here at 33, 34 years old, and I don't plan to stop now. I have a lot of football ahead of me," he said.