|
Hannover attacker Joselu has not seen Spain coach Vicente del Bosque in a Bundesliga stadium, despite several Spaniards plying their trade in Germany. Joselu, 24, who came through the ranks at Celta Vigo, is edging closer to his final breakthrough in the Bundesliga at his third German club Hannover. The Stuttgart-born attacker joined Hoffenheim from Real Madrid Castilla in 2012 -- where he scored five goals in 25 appearances -- before he was sent on loan to Eintracht Frankfurt the next season, and almost doubled his tally when he scored nine goals in 24 games. This summer, Joselu was transferred to Hannover, where he has already scored four goals in seven league and cup outings. A total of 13 Spanish professionals are currently under contract in the Bundesliga; Bayern Munich have the largest share with five players, after adding Xabi Alonso, Juan Bernat and Pepe Reina to Javi Martinez and Thiago Alcantara this summer. But Gladbach, Mainz, Hannover, Paderborn, Cologne, Freiburg, Stuttgart, and Bremen also employ one Spanish player each. "Clubs like Levante can often only take players on a one-year-loan," Joselu explained in Sport Bild. "They are hardly able to buy players. And paying the wages at the end of the months can be problematic. "The players can't count on it. And that's why players move abroad. Especially the Bundesliga clubs are regarded as reliable." But despite the ever-growing fleet of Spanish players in the upper German tier, the league still has not caught the eye of Spain coach Vicente del Bosque, Joselu said. "So far, I have not seen del Bosque in a Bundesliga stadium. He's always at the Bernabeu, the Camp Nou or the Calderon," Joselu remarked. "But maybe he'll be coming to Hannover soon. After all, a former player of his is here. He trained our coach Tayfun Korkut at Besiktas." But the former Spain under-21 international said that he currently is not thinking about playing for La Roja. "Right now, I only focus on Hannover," he said. After a shaky campaign last season, which saw the club axe long-time coach Mirko Slomka, Hannover are currently ranked sixth in the Bundesliga after three wins in their first six games.
|
