Split of Mateo Joseph in action for Leeds United and Spain manager Luis De La Fuente giving a speech.Credit: Getty Images – Cameron Smith / Stringer. Angel Martinez / Stringer.
Spain first-team manager’s unexpected surprise for Leeds United star Mateo Joseph
Mateo Joseph will be looking to build on his wonderful form for Spain’s U21 side during the break, which has been a stark contrast to his numbers in a Leeds United shirt this season.
Rewind 12 months, and Joseph was starting to get more and more game time. A brace against Chelsea in The FA Cup and a goal in the league against Watford showed plenty of signs of promise in the striker.
That was followed by a superb pre-season in which Joseph scored against Hannover, Schalke and then La Liga outfit Valencia. But after a poor start, Joel Piroe has replaced him in Daniel Farke’s starting line-up.
Piroe has gone on to be first choice, having a hand in 21 goals for Leeds this season while Joseph remains on just three for the entire campaign. However, Joseph’s saving grace has been his Spain U21 form.
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Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images
Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images
Spain boss Luis De La Fuente’s surprise for Mateo Joseph
In five appearances for Spain’s U21 side this season, Joseph has scored five times including a hat-trick against Kazakhstan. Spain boss Luis De La Fuente is said to be eyeing Joseph for the 2026 World Cup.
Joseph was one of 16 Leeds players called-up this month with Spain’s U21 side taking on the Czech Republic and then Germany. However, De La Fuente had a surprise for Joseph ahead of the U21 games.
Indeed, Joseph – along with a few other U21 stars like Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez, Al Ahli’s Gabri Veiga and Liverpool loanee Stefan Bajcetic – were called-up to senior training under De La Fuente this week.
Suben varios de la Sub-21 a entrenar con la Absoluta. Fermín, Gabri Veiga, Moleiro,Juanlu,Mateo Joseph,Bajcetic..
Más de la mitad de los convocados jugaron ayer y seguramente se irán ahora al gimnasio a hacer recuperación, de ahí lo de subir jugadores para ‘rellenar’ el entreno. pic.twitter.com/IiqVJmHjZe
— Selección-Rojita (@SeleccionRojita) March 17, 2025
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When will Mateo Joseph be in action for Spain’s U21 side?
Daniel Farke will be remaining in Yorkshire hoping that his players all return fit and ready to go for the Championship run-in. But if there is one player he hopes plays 90 minutes, it will surely be Joseph.
Piroe has now gone a few games without scoring and Leeds need a source of inspiration up front from elsewhere. Joseph is the obvious one next in line, though Patrick Bamford could make a return soon.
Spain U21’s two March fixtures:
Date Opponent Venue Competition KO time
March 21 Czech Republic Estadio Francisco Artés Carrasco Friendly 6.30PM
March 25 Germany Stadion am Böllenfalltor Friendly 7.30PM
But if Joseph can get a goal in the next couple of games for Spain’s U21 side, his confidence will be somewhat restored ahead of a return after the break when Leeds take on Swansea on March 29.
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