Mateo Joseph pushed hard to leave Leeds United. He didn’t report for pre-season training, handed in a transfer request, and went to war with the club to find a way to return to Spain on a loan deal until the end of the season. However, was it all worth it?
Daniel Farke was quick to remove him from his plans for the Premier League season once the striker refused to turn up for pre-season training after an extended summer break.
The Leeds boss had no time for a player who had invested in him last season, but he failed to score the goals needed to earn the manager’s trust. Farke was prepared to have him in the squad, but plans changed once Joseph made it clear he wanted to move on from Elland Road.
Mallorca signed him on a simple loan deal until the end of the season after Real Betis failed to convince Leeds to include a purchase option in any loan agreement.
Mateo Joseph is finding out that the grass is not greener away from Leeds United
Joseph felt that he didn’t get enough opportunities last season despite starting the Championship campaign as the team’s primary number 9.
Farke had to drop him as he was not scoring the goals needed from a Leeds number 9, and Joel Piroe took his place to become the Championship’s top scorer.
Joseph has not performed at the senior level, and he returned to Spain in the summer to rekindle his career away from Leeds.
However, his time at Mallorca has not been rosy either. He has registered two assists and has yet to score a goal in seven La Liga games.
Joseph has also lost his place in the starting eleven and has started just one of his last three La Liga fixtures.
The striker’s struggles have mirrored Mallorca’s problems, who are sitting at the bottom of the league table in the Spanish top flight.
Leeds still believe in him
The Whites were insistent on ensuring that no club had any option to buy him in the agreement to loan Joseph out in the summer.
Real Betis wanted that option, but Leeds refused, and Mallorca only managed to sign the forward as they agreed to sign him on a simple loan deal.
Leeds want to bring Joseph back to the club next summer and retain their support for him within the hierarchy while deciding his long-term future
The Whites hope a good loan spell at Mallorca will better prepare him for the Leeds first team, or allow them to sell him for a higher value next year.
However, Joseph’s struggles suggest Leeds may have a bigger problem to solve when he returns to the club at the end of the season.
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