Mateo Joseph impressed so much for Spain’s U21 side during the last international break that were suggestions he could be handed a route to the senior team.
The 20-year-old scored twice, and with there being a shortage in Spain of attackers for first team manager Luis de la Fuente to choose from, the Leeds United player was presented as an option to be tried out soon.
That’s in view of the 2026 World Cup, so it will certainly give the youngster something to aim for and that can only help Daniel Farke’s side.
Seeing Joseph heralded so much in the Spanish media, and hearing about the possibility of him being groomed ahead of 2026, must be difficult for Espanyol.
Joseph was in the club’s academy from 2017 until 2022, when Leeds United came along and snatched him away.
Espanyol feel they’ve seen too many youngsters leave in such a way, and therefore sporting director Fran Garagarza wants to build a wall to prevent it.
AS have interviewed Garagarza and pointed out he’s managed 50 youth team renewals since arriving at the club, to which he said: “Well, I think it was something important, that the kids who have talent don’t leave us, because the flight in this club is important. This year there were departures to Atlético de Madrid, Real Madrid, Barcelona… We wanted to put up a fortress.”
Then AS explained out that in recent years the threat has become more widespread, such as the Whites taking Joseph, and the director acknowledged the issue: “Yes, yes, yes. Before my arrival there was an exit to Juve, another, Mateo Joseph, to Leeds, Luca Koleosho to Burnley, Simo to Qatar… There are the ingredients, but if we bet on them, we have to prove it.”
