Page 3 - 5 players you probably didn’t know played for Real Madrid

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.

About the author

Vaibhav is a European and international football journalist who writes post-match articles for Sportskeeda. A post-graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, he boasts a total experience of 6 years and has worked for reputed websites such as Times Internet and Men's Health India.

Vaibhav's journey as a football fan began after he was left impressed by the fast-paced action and the gripping storylines of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He admires Kaka's elegance and determination, while his favorite manager is Sir Alex Ferguson due to the Scotsman's decision-making, vision and man-management abilities. He is also a passionate Manchester United supporter, and believes that Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland could create a historic rivalry similar to the Ronaldo-Messi one.

Vaibhav always cross-checks his information from a number of trustworthy websites and relies on his creative writing skills to produce compelling content. His exploits in journalism have led him to interviewing Indian footballers Robin Singh and Eugeneson Lyngdoh in his career so far.

Vaibhav’s favorite FIFA World Cup moment is Andres Iniesta's tribute to Daniel Jarque in the final of the 2010 edition. When not writing, he likes to read murder mysteries and watch stand-up comedy.

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Edited by Vishal Subramanian

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

3. Willian Jose