Dichotomy in Scoring: From Mariano to Joselu at Real Madrid

More in four months than in five years. The mirror that reflects two antonym performances. Joselu and Mariano, heads and tails. With his goals and forgiveness, ‘Crouchy’ (as Bellingham affectionately calls Joselu behind closed doors, due to his similarities with Peter Crouch) has already scored eight goals this season, a double against Union Berlin (both with a header). That performance confirmed the surprise: Mariano made seven in five years, those of his second stage in Chamartín (from 2018 to 2023). A performance so poor that it led Madrid to not renew him last summer (despite his willingness to do so, even agreeing to lower his salary) and sign ‘Crouchy’. Satisfaction with number 14 prevails in the club; The numbers reinforce it and the sensations embrace it.

When they signed him, they were looking for precisely this: a footballer at the service of the team, without bad faces, devoid of a poisonous ego, who came to contribute and was open to understanding, when necessary, a substitute. Joselu signed with the ambition of someone who wants to be a starter – whoever doesn’t have that, let them worry – but stepping on the ground. And from there, he will squeeze every minute to earn continuity next season; something that, at the moment, is not going wrong (Madrid has a purchase option for him that is around a million and a half euros; it is in his hands). “I hope I can stay longer in Madrid; what I’m going to try,” he confessed to AS in September.

Joselu hits the grass in rage to celebrate his second goal against Union Berlin.Soccrates ImagesGetty Images

The club, as has been reported in recent months, plans to undertake the signing of a Galáctico this summer (Mbappé or Haaland), but the figure of that ‘second striker’ will continue to be needed and Joselu fits into the puzzle. He started this season on the bench, but Vinicius’ injuries pushed him into the lineup. And he already has eight goals and two assists in 21 games. The account is simple: he participates in a bullseye every 107 ′ and roars every 133 ′. The current Zarra (last year he was the top national scorer in the Primera: 16 goals with Espanyol) generates and, despite the buzz surrounding his aim, he adds. Something opposite to his predecessor.

The Marian Desert

Summer 2018: Madrid, orphaned by Cristiano Ronaldo, saw Mariano as a killer (21 goals in 45 games for Lyon made him brilliant) and paid almost 22 million to pick him up, taking him out of the hands of Sevilla, who had closed him down. But second parts were never good. Mariano returned to Chamartín, signed five years and took Cristiano’s 7th. In his first season, he played: he barely played 750 minutes, scoring four goals. He seemed little, without knowing that what was coming was even less. In the next he only played 81 measly minutes, scoring a goal (against Barça). Then, 679′ and another solitary blow; 392′ and a goal… and in the last one, 155′ and no goals. He left Madrid without saying goodbye: Ancelotti did not put him on the last day against Athletic, the afternoon of tributes. And the balance of his five years was brief: seven goals.

Mariano and Ancelotti cross paths, crestfallen, after the match against Elche.JESUS ​​ALVAREZ ORIHUELADiarioAS

It did not convince the sports management but, above all, it did not convince Ancelotti, who came to bet on Hazard or Rodrygo as a false nine before him. Mariano didn’t count. But Joselu does. Carletto, beyond his attitude, likes him for the ability to play high that he offers, a key against Union Berlin, for example: “In the second half we tried to be more effective, betting on the centers, since we had a very good header. And that’s how Joselu scored the two goals, over the top! In the first one we tried too hard to get inside and there were no spaces. Having Joselu we had to follow that path, the centers.”

Third top scorer

Joselu has already overtaken Vinicius (6 goals) and is on the podium of Real Madrid’s top scorers, just one behind Rodrygo (9) and in the wake of Bellingham (leading leader with 16). He has 1,069 ‘officials’ this season, being the ninth player who has played the most, ahead of players like Camavinga (1,061′), Tchouameni (1,019′) or Vinicius (975′). But there is a more illuminating fact: he has only been left without playing in one of the 22 games that Madrid has played this season (against Braga, when he was absent due to flu). In the other 21: ten times starter and the rest, replacement. Joselu always plays. He has fit the profile of a ‘rotation forward’ serving the needs of each game. Without bad faces, without inflated egos. For the club he is exactly the number nine that Mariano was not.

PlayerGoalsBellingham16Rodrygo9Joselu8Vinicius6Brahim3

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2023-12-13 04:24:09
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