LU BEAUTY
Heartwarming moment Joselu hugs crying son in crowd after former Premier League flop wins Champions League
Striker had nightmare spells with two Prem teams but is now a European champion
VETERAN Joselu was spotted enjoying a heartwarming moment with his son in the crowd after Real Madrid won the Champions League.
The former Stoke forward, 34, made an appearance from the bench in the final moments of the Wembley clash against Borussia Dortmund.
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With his team already winning 2-0, it was about seeing the game out.
And when the full-time whistle went, he was spotted heading for the crowd to hug his boy, who was in floods of tears of joy.
Joselu had already proven his worth to Carlo Ancelotti's side in the semi-final of the competition.
In the semi-final against Bayern Munich, it was his double-strike that saw off the Germans to book Real Madrid's spot at Wembley.
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He is currently on loan from Espanyol, with his future unresolved.
However, with the imminent arrival of Endrick and Kylian Mbappe, he is expected to return to his parent club.
Joselu has come a long way since flopping in the Premier League.
At Stoke from 2015-2016, he managed just four goals in 27 games.
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Then, between 2017-2019 he turned out for Newcastle - where he managed just seven goals in 52 games.
But that won't matter to Joselu now, who is a Champions League winner.
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Bellingham outshines Sancho on the night of his dreams at Wembley
THE very moment Vinicius Junior struck the second goal, Jude Bellingham sank to his knees, stretched out his arms and looked up at the sky, writes Charlie Wyett.
It was the moment that Bellingham had always dreamed of, to win the Champions League. The fact it came at Wembley, on home soil, made it that little sweeter.
Bellingham delivered the pass to Vinicius who scored to ensure that Real Madrid, remarkably, have now been the kings of Europe on 15 occasions.
It was the final kick of the biggest game in Bellingham’s life as he was immediately replaced by Joselu in a tactical switch by Carlo Ancelotti.
With no Premier League teams involved, this was an English duel between Bellingham and Jadon Sancho. The west midlands v south London. Stourbridge versus Kennington.
It is obvious which of the two former team-mates won this scrap, although Sancho’s team should have put Real out of sight by half-time.
Ultimately, neither Englishmen had particularly dazzling games.
Sancho, on loan from Manchester United, started brightly and gave Real left-back Ferland Mendy a few uneasy moments.
Yet this was nothing like the performances he delivered against PSG to help his team to the final.
Instead, with three minutes remaining of normal time, Sancho was replaced by another Englishman, teenager Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.
There was to be no drama. Bellingham added this Euro title to his La Liga winner’s medal. Not forgetting he has also been voted as the La Liga player of the year.
Bellingham, featuring in his 42nd game of the season for Real, was unable to make much of an impact in his role wide left.
On the hour mark, he had touched the ball 35 times but had done little with it.
With the scores at 0-0, he somehow failed to score with a header when he was unable to make contact with a cross from Vinicius. Any touch and it would have been a goal.
By then, the keyboard warriors were out in force on social media, dishing out some laughable criticism of England's greatest talent. Potentially, our greatest ever player.
Yet the inevitable happened and Dortmund were left to curse those missed chances.
A mistake by Sancho led to a Madrid corner and Dani Carvajal leapt highest to head them into the lead.
Bellingham had another chance but it was deflected wide by Nico Schlotterbeck.
But, with seven minutes left, he helped stick the knife in to help Vinicius score and ensure this is an evening he will never forget.
In the crowd were his dad Mark, mum Denise and brother Jobe, who got into the stadium five hours early
Bellingham’s mum was in tears as her son stepped up to get his medal. And let’s all hope Bellingham will be lifting another trophy in Berlin on July 14.
In the showpiece at Wembley, Real Madrid weathered early pressure from Borussia Dortmund to go in 0-0 at half-time.
The Spanish side upped their game after the first period, eventually scoring from a Dani Carvajal header in the 74th minute.
Vinicius Jr wrapped up the victory in the 83rd minute, after an assist from Jude Bellingham.
The victory is Real Madrid's 15th in the competition.
It's Carlo Ancelotti's fifth Champions League title as a manager.
After the game, he told TNT Sports: "It seems a dream but it is reality. Really happy for sure.
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"Really difficult game as usual, they played better first half, we played better second half, but a final is always like this. We were able to win, a fantastic season and we are really happy to be able to win the cup again."
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Asked about Real Madrid's knack of winning the Champions League, he divulged: "It is the history and tradition of the club, of course the quality of the players, the club is a family, we work altogether without problems and the atmosphere is really good in the dressing room.
"I need to thank the club and the players, no big egos, really humble, it was not difficult to manage the squad this season."
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