Squad: Jose Callejon (21)

Jose Callejon

Jose Maria was born in Motril (Granada) on 11 February 1987. He joined Real Madrid's academy in September 2002 following a stint at Agrupacion Deportiva de Futbol Costa Tropical. His brother Juan Miguel, who currently plays for Cordoba, also joined the club.

Callejon started out on the Under-16 side, climbing up the ladder until he became a Real Madrid C player at the start of the 2006/07 campaign - he played some games with the third team during the previous year. He was promoted to Castilla in the 2007/08 season and made his international debut with Spain's Under-21 side on 25 March 2008 against Kazakhstan, scoring one goal.

Real Madrid transferred Callejon to Espanyol in the summer of that year. He made his Firtst Division debut with the Barcelona team against Getafe on 3 September. He arrived as a striker, but adapted to the winger position down either side thanks to his versatility, speed and dribbling skills.

Data

• Place of Birth: Motril (Spain)


• Date of Birth: 11/02/1987


• Position: Midfielder


• Weight: 73 kg


• Height: 179 cm


• Nationality: Spanish

Jose Callejon: New Real Madrid player

Real Madrid and RCD Espanyol have confirmed that they had reached an agreement for five million euros, for the transfer of Jose Maria Callejon to the white club, with which he will be bound over the next five seasons. Espanyol signed him three seasons ago for 1.2 million from Real Madrid Castilla. The purchase of the player is the third signing of Real Madrid for the next season, after theTurkish Nuri Sahin, who arrived from Borussia Dortmund, and Hamit Altintop of Bayern Munich.

Jose Callejon: New Real Madrid player

The striker, 24 years old, reached the ranks of Real Madrid in September 2002 from the Association Soccer Sports "Costa Tropical", from Motril (Andalusia), together with his twin brother Juan Miguel, who now plays in Cordoba. On his arrival, he joined the Cadet category and was up to reach Real Madrid "C" in the 2006-07 season, where had already played some games last season, and in 2007-08 made ​​the leap to Real Madrid Castilla.

His good performance with the Real Madrid young teams led (March 25, 2008) his debut, with a goal included, in the U-21 Spanish national team (match against Kazakhstan) and a few months later his move to RCD Espanyol, where debuted in the League on September, 2008 against Getafe (1-1). In his first season with the blue and white team, the versatile player played 24 league games and scored 2 goals, while in the next reached 36 games played with the same goals. His best season was the latter, in which has participated in 37 league matches and scored 6 goals, playing two matches of the "Copa del Rey".

The player's contract ended in 2012. Callejon is another player who returns to Real Madrid after being trained in the young teams and after an experience of over a hundred games played in the top category, although he will have serious competition for a place on the Mourinho's team.

Jose Callejon: Signed by five million euros

Jose Callejón, whose signing will be confirmed by the two clubs at the end of the season, has been a choice of Mourinho, who liked his attitude and actions in the two matches against Espanyol. The striker has "exploded" playing in the sides, a false position from where sometimes he becomes second forward or plays between the enemy lines. His speed and defensive sacrifice are his best weapons. The negotiation was swift: they came warned by a statement of Florentino Pérez in February when he announced the return of a former youth squad. Everything indicated that the "return" would be Dani Parejo, to fill the creative midfield position, but the possible incorporation of Nuri Sahin seems to close the doors to Getafe player.

Callejón, who started 33 times with six goals and ten assists, was signed by Paco Herrera for a million euros from the Castilla and will return to the white club, which had no preferential option, for five million. He will sign for four years and will earn two million per year. The player could have already passed medical checks in the capital of Spain.

The Espanyol player, whose buyout clause is eight million, ends his contract next season and negotiations for renewal were stranded. Real Madrid wants more Spanish players in the staff and although it is rumored that the player could be part of an operation during the summer, Mourinho wants that the player will improve the competitiveness of a young squad with great future.

Jose Callejón