5 players you probably didn’t know played for Real Madrid | La Liga 2019-20

3. Willian Jose

Willian Jose in action for Real Madrid in 2014. Credits: realmadrid.com

Although Willian Jose has a long way to go before he can be considered a household name, he has garnered a lot of media attention this season after his exploits with Real Sociedad saw him linked with a host of big-money moves.

A move to Tottenham Hotspur seemed likely in the summer as well as in January, while Barcelona were also looking at him in January before eventually moving for Leganes frontman Martin Braithwaite. Amidst all this speculation, it’s easy to forget that the Brazilian striker was on the books at Real Madrid in 2014, and even made a first-team appearance for Los Blancos in the league.

It was during one of seven loan spells from Uruguayan club Deportivo Maldonado that Willian Jose joined Real Madrid in 2014, where he was only intended to play for the reserves. However, a string of fine performances saw him called up to the senior side by Jose Mourinho, who sent him on for his solitary appearance in April of that year.

However, Jose’s displays weren’t enough to earn a permanent move to the Spanish capital, and he returned to Uruguay for a couple more years before making the switch to Real Sociedad in 2016. He has scored against Real Madrid since, and might well be on the move yet again in the summer.