During a podcast hosted by Casillas, Joselu stated that leaving Real Madrid is a lifelong regret, but he prioritized his family and children's future over athletic considerations.
José Luis Mato, known to fans as Joselu, discussed significant moments of his career during Iker Casillas' podcast "Under the Crossbar," including his time at Real Madrid, the beginning of his football career, and his current stint at Al-Gharafa SC in the Qatar Stars League.
Reflecting on the phone call that changed his career trajectory, Joselu recalled: "Ancelotti called me... I can tell you, the first month was very difficult for me because they put a lot of pressure on me."
Regarding the controversial match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, Joselu acknowledged it remains a frequent topic of discussion: "I am in Qatar now, and everyone talks to me about that match. We're talking about something that happened two years ago."
On the VAR review, Joselu added: "I never realized how long the referee looked at the VAR. For me, it felt like an eternity, like half an hour."
Joselu also recalled the origin of his nickname, explaining that during his time in Celta's youth academy: "Teammates and coaches started calling me Joselu, and it's been that way ever since."
He also remembered the hardship of commuting from his hometown of Silleda to training during his time at Celta, which is approximately 140 kilometers from Vigo. He said: "My father would finish work, I would finish school, and then they would take me to Vigo for training, and after training, we would go back to my village."
On those round trips, Joselu added: "With travel and everything, it easily adds up to three hours."
Speaking about the pressure of playing for Real Madrid, Joselu remarked sarcastically: "The pressure is knowing that you might fall into a pit, and 60% of your contract might go to waste. If you have a bad season, no one will want you next year. I think I've experienced this kind of pressure throughout my career—that's just how it is. Ultimately, I've played for relatively average teams, and you know from the first game of the season that your goal is to avoid relegation... Win the championship? Then I'd say, I'd like more of that kind of pressure."
Joselu concluded: "The decision to leave Real Madrid will be a lifelong regret because what I experienced there, I will never experience again. But considering my children, my wife, and their future, I believe that is now more important than any athletic aspect."
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