Mateo Joseph’s feature in Leeds United has been a talking point throughout the summer and it looks set to be for a little while longer yet.
Mateo Joseph remains a player with huge potential. But he wasn’t given all that much game time last season as Leeds United romped towards the Championship title with Joseph playing 39 games in the league, starting only 11 and scoring three goals.
Going into the summer, there was no immediate indication of what would unfold between Joseph and Leeds United. Though manager Daniel Farke would later confirm that Joseph refused to fly out to Germany as part of the pre-season tour before reports soon after revealed how Joseph handed in a transfer request at Leeds United.
Interest in the Spanish under-21 star is nothing new. Back in January, Real Betis offered £10million to sign Joseph from Leeds United which the 49ers swiftly rejected. Since then Joseph has had other interest from Spain from Celta Vigo and Girona, however the latest comes from Mallorca.
It is understood that Joseph looks set to join Mallorca in the La Liga, although Leeds United want their £10million price tag to be met, or to send him out on loan without the option to buy.
Brenden Aaronson applauds the Leeds fans after a draw against West Brom.
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
What Brenden Aaronson said about Mateo Joseph at Leeds United
Back in February, Leeds United thumped Cardiff City 7-0 at Elland Road with Joseph scoring in the 88th minute of the game. Also on the score sheet that day was Brenden Aaronson. Shortly after the Cardiff game, Aaronson gave his verdict on Joseph and his situation at Thorp Arch.
Interestingly, Aaronson admitted Joseph had been struggling to score goals, but that Joseph kept on working hard behind the scenes and that he’s simply a hungry player who wants to play as much as possible.
Mateo Joseph total games for Leeds Goals Assists
73 6 4
Aaronson said: “Mateo is one of my good friends first of all, he’s a young kid and he’s been struggling to score goals – everyone knows that. Strikers go through this. But what I love about Mateo is that he stays hungry.
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“He wants to keep working, everyday after training he’s asking me to do stuff today, tomorrow. Really hungry kid, he’s got a huge future ahead of him and hopefully, this is a turning point for him.”
Mateo Joseph has hands on hips during Leeds United vs Millwall.
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
What to make of the Mateo Joseph saga at Leeds United
It’s difficult to know exactly what’s going through Joseph’s head right now, or indeed what’s actually been going on behind the scenes between him and Farke. But it certainly seems like a difficult position for Joseph.
For many in his position, though, promotion to the Premier League would’ve have been hugely exciting. Albeit he’d be playing a cameo role once again, but Joseph would’ve had a handful of opportunities to prove himself next season.
It’s clear however that he wants to leave and Spain looks like his likeliest destination. And going off of Aaronson’s earlier comments, it seems to all boil down to game time.
Joseph is still only 21 years old, turning 22 in October, and so he’s still regarded as a prospect in many ways, though he has enough first-team and international experience to put himself in good stead to really kick on in the next few years.
And whilst it must be respected that a young player just wants to play football and not be left struggling for game time, it seems like Joseph has gone about the whole situation in the wrong way.
Refusing to go out to Germany and handing in a transfer request doesn’t paint him in the best light.
Now he’s just waiting on a club to come in and pay the asking price, or to sign him on loan without having the option to buy. If that doesn’t happen then Joseph will likely be left in the doldrums by a manager who’s surely lost a lot of respect for him.