Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has pledged to get the best of new signing Joselu — after seeing his potential long ago in Real Madrid's academy.

The promoted Magpies have spent £5million on the Stoke striker, who was on the Bernabeu giants' books from 2009-2012, and Benitez knows his fellow Spaniard well.

Forward Joselu, 27, had a poor goals record as a Potter, scoring only four times, and also netted four last season on loan in his homeland with Deportivo La Coruna.

Boss Benitez knows how much potential there is to be unlocked in the 27-year-old (
Image:
Getty)

But he found the net more regularly during three years in Germany with Hannover, Eintracht Frankfurt and Hoffenheim before joining Stoke in summer 2015.

Benitez monitored him as a kid and said: "We have known Joselu since his days at the Real Madrid academy, and we know that he has the potential to do well for us.

A 21-year-old Joselu celebrates scoring for Madrid back in May 2011 (
Image:
Getty)

“Obviously, he has experience of English football and the Premier League and that was another thing we took into consideration.

“We think if we can exploit his full potential he will be a good signing for us.

"He knows and accepts the challenge we've given him at Newcastle United and he's keen to come and fight for a position in the team."

Joselu said: “I’m happy to be joining such a big club.”

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