In Doha, Joselu Mato has chosen continuity over a return to the European circuit. The 36-year-old Spanish forward is set to remain in Qatar after agreeing to join Al Sailiya, following his departure from Al Gharafa a few months ago.
The Galician striker had been linked with a range of clubs in Spain and abroad while available as a free agent. After weighing his next move, however, he has opted for another chapter in the Qatari game rather than reopening a career that has already taken him through several major European leagues.
Quick facts
- Joselu, 36, is expected to sign for Al Sailiya in Qatar.
- He had been without a club since leaving Al Gharafa.
- The forward was part of Spain’s Euro 2024-winning squad.
- His career has included spells at Alavés, Real Madrid, Newcastle and Espanyol.
- Al Sailiya’s squad is largely young and features many Qatari players.
Al Sailiya will offer Joselu a senior reference point in a comparatively youthful group. Moroccan attacking midfielder Younes Belhanda, whose career has also included extensive experience in Europe, is among the side’s most recognisable names.
For Joselu, the move extends a long and varied career built around goals and adaptability. He has played in Spain, England and Germany, represented a series of clubs, and earned the opportunity to return to Real Madrid for a second spell before moving to Qatar.
That Madrid return gave the striker another high-profile stage late in his career, while his inclusion in Spain’s victorious Euro 2024 group underlined his continued standing at international level. Al Sailiya now becomes the next stop for a forward who has decided that his future remains in the Gulf rather than back on the European map.
