“A true number 9 comes onto the pitch and wins the game for Madrid; that’s why these types of players exist,” Joselu said, and that line already fits Carlos Espí’s first days at Real Madrid. He was officially unveiled less than 24 hours after scoring the winner against Espanyol vs Real Madrid, in a private presentation in the boardroom at Real Madrid City. His contract runs through June 2031.
Joselu’s verdict on Espí
Joselu’s praise is not coming out of nowhere. Espí has three goals in his first five appearances for Madrid, and he has put five of his six shots on target. That is the profile Madrid want from a striker used to settle tight games, especially when one of those goals arrives in the 90th minute.
Espí’s own words matched the mood around the unveiling. “Being at Real Madrid is an honor. I’m very happy for my family and myself. I’m going to give my all for this club,” he said. He also pointed to the scale of the place, saying he was very impressed by the 15 Champions League titles and that “the squad is the best in the world.”
The early return also sits on top of a stronger scoring base from Levante. He finished with 11 goals in 25 appearances there last season, which is a far better guide than treating the Madrid burst as a pure one-off. The way the club moved for him, paying his €25 million release clause, underlines that this was never meant to be a decorative signing.
What the first five games suggest
Madrid do not need Espí to score in every match, but they do need a centre-forward who can decide one quickly when the game tightens. That is what happened at Espanyol, and it is why Joselu’s public endorsement landed so naturally.
The clean takeaway is simple enough: Espí has opened with three goals, one of them a late winner, and Madrid already have a striker who looks comfortable in the role they bought him for. The next chance to extend that run will come in the league after this opening burst.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
