The Final Week of the Window

As we enter the final full week of the transfer window, alot has been talked about regarding Real Mallorca but not alot has actually happened.

At the beginning of the window, we signed Japanese winger Akihiro Ienaga (known as Aki) on a free transfer. The original intention from Laudrup was to loan him out until the end of the season, but this eventually fell through. And then Serra Ferrer wanted him registered and ready to play in the Bernabéu due to the marketing potential, but this failed to materialise too. This essentially ended local boy Tuni’s association with the club, as a six month loan deal with Nàstic de Tarragona has been agreed and is just awaiting the players signature. Tuni’s Real Mallorca contract will not be renewed when it expires at the end of the season.  As it stands for Aki, he is waiting upon the sale of Gonzalo Castro to be registered.

Gonzalo Castro is a whole other story. He was first linked away from the club in the summer, and everyone was quite surprised when he stayed. And it looks as if he may be staying through the winter window too, despite much more concrete interest from clubs. His £16,000 per week contract expires at the end of next season, and he has made no bones about his intention to leave. It appeared to be that he would join either Atlético Madrid, Villarreal or Valencia. But it has been revealed that Llorenç Serra Ferrer refused to even sit down and discuss the transfer with Villarreal after their summer exploits and Castro would like to return to Uruguay for his home side to then sell him back to a  European team.

A deal was struck with his former side Nacional, and the signature seemed to be hours away. But ever since, the Uruguayan team have been stalling the deal leading to Serra Ferrer’s impatience. The deal now seems to be 60-40 in favour of Castro leaving the club, but anything could happen.

With the chance that Castro could remain at the club, Ratinho could suffer. After his dour performances saw the inexperienced Pau Cendrós take the first choice right back role, it is rumoured that Aki will take Ratinho’s non-EU place and the Brazilian would leave the club. Nothing more has been revealed, but his decent performance against Real Madrid won’t have done him too much harm.

Mallorca’s frailties at the back have been all too apparent this season, especially with the absence of Iván Ramis. And there was a chance his absence would be made permanent when both Celtic and PSG swooped in for him. But with both of these offers fizzling out into nothing it seems as if he will be with us for the next six months at least.

Young left back Kevin seems to have claimed the left back role to himself, meaning one of Enrique Corrales or Ayoze are very likely to leave the club if not both. Almería expressed an interest in both of these players with Corrales the more likely to move, but again, nothing has come of it so far. But with Ayoze’s deal expiring at the end of the season anyway, both players futures could be numbered. Martí Crespí too has been linked with an exit along with a possible loan exit to Granada CF for Tomás Pina.

And then we have the particularly uncertain area of the striker. It looks as if new signing Fernando Cavenaghi‘s loan deal will be cut short as first expected and he will join Brazilian side Nacional on loan from Bordeaux. And he wasn’t the only striker who had an unhappy loan spell, with Alhassane Keita spending an unsuccessful time on loan at Real Valladolid. He, in the end, decided it would be better to terminate his contract with the club. He is looking to go out on loan again, with Asia the likely destination.

The striker who has had an unexpected successful first half of the season is originally unwanted Cameroonian Pierre Webó, who has turned into Michael Laudrup’s first choice striker. In turn, he has attracted the attentions of Celtic, Bolton, Fulham and West Brom but the Daily Mail seems to think he is on his way to St Andrews and Birmingham City. Whilst Serra Ferrer may not like his£19,500 p/w contract, it would surely be far to risky for him to accept offers in the January window considering Cavenaghi is leaving, Víctor’s injury and Sergi’s inexperience. And with the apparent offer of David Suazo from Inter not leading to anything, he will more than likely be staying put.

In Summary, chances of leaving

Ratinho (low)
Iván Ramis (almost non-existent)
Ayoze (very low, until the summer)
Martí Crespí (low)
Enrique Corrales (moderate)
Gonzalo Castro (more than likely)
Tuni (a done deal)
Tomás Pina (moderate to low)
Pierre Webó (low, unless replacement is found)
Fernando Cavenaghi (all but sealed)