Leeds United youngster Mateo Joseph is drawing motivation from FC Barcelona’s youngsters who have experienced success at an early age as the striker navigates his young career, which he hopes will lead to a successful 2024-25 season with the English side.
Joseph arrived at Elland Road in 2022 from Espanyol’s youth academy, looking to break through into the first team. As football becomes a young player’s sport, the 20-year-old striker knows that he has to look at his peers and produce when given the opportunity.
The young goal scorer has made 36 appearances on the first team, scoring four goals and recording two assists. However, the player has produced while on the U21 side, scoring 19 goals and registering three assists in 33 appearances.
So far this 2024-25 season, Joseph is off to an excellent start, recording one goal and registering two assists in four matches for Leeds. This production will surely boost the young player’s confidence as he look to grab that No. 1 striker role this campaign.
Moreover, with The Whites’ attack undergoing change this summer with key players departing, Joseph has the opportunity to seize more minutes as a starter.
Mateo Joseph draws motivation from Barcelona standouts
Several clubs are increasingly relying on teenagers to play key roles each season, and one club looking toward its youth system is FC Barcelona. The Catalan side have counted on players like Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí to play a significant part in their squad despite their ages.
Joseph spoke to the Spanish media and noted what clubs must do to ensure their young academy talents find that level of success Yamal and Cubarsí have experienced with the La Liga side.
“The club always gave me confidence, despite not having as many minutes last year,” Joseph said (h/t Yorkshire Evening Post). “Always have that patience, young players see others like Lamine [Yamal] or [Pau] Cubarsí who are so young playing in the elite [senior national team] and they want to run.
“But well, everyone has their own path and it is important that, as I said before, keep your feet on the ground and keep working.”
Joseph appears to be making the most of his opportunities so far this season, and if this is a prelude to what’s to come, the forward could have a breakout campaign.
