Notice to Internet Explorer 6 users: Your web browser is out-of-date and cannot display this website correctly. Please update it.
 

Weekly Summary – 04.02.11

Monday 31st January 2011
  • The club have announced a loss for the 2010/2011 financial year of £12.8 million. This was to be expected following the bankruptcy proceedings early in 2010 and so there is no great concern. The club are expected to settle their debts soon when a debt reduction is agreed with the club’s creditors.
Tuesday 1st February 2011
  • The failure to sell Gonzalo Castro is not a positive one according to club insiders. The club feel his rejection of a £3.4 million and £25,000 p/w offer from a Russian team was because he needed to remain in Spain to gain dual nationality in a few weeks. Dual nationality would mean he doesn’t take up a non-EU place in a Spanish squad. In the summer, his transfer valuation will be decreased even further as he will only have one year remaining on his contract. The perfect time for Valencia and Villarreal to swoop for a player who won’t take up a non-EU space.
  • In fact, it is rumoured that the reason he flew to Madrid on transfer deadline day was to inquire about gaining dual nationality as he married a Spanish woman last year which would, again, mean that he wouldn’t take up a non-EU space. Relations between the club and the player will not be easily resumed.
  • It has been revealed that it was Michael Laudrup’s ultimate decision to go with Akihiro Ienaga over Ratinho for the final non-EU space. The decision was made when it became clear the club would not be selling Chori Castro.
  • It is believed Laudrup will give Aki has debut against Osasuna at the weekend.
  • According to Diario de Mallorca, Serra Ferrer was unable to hide his grief when he explained that the club was willing to pay £385,000 of Corrales‘ contract, with agreement from the administrators already given, for him to join Real Valladolid on loan as long as it was paid in installments. The agreement was ‘virtually closed’ before Corrales decided not to join.
  • At 11pm on transfer deadline day, Anthony Ujah left the Iberostar Estadi out of a back door to avoid being caught by reporters as he went to leave the country and return to Norway.
  • When asked about the weakness in the right back and striker roles following the closure of the window, Serra Ferrer pointed out that Emilio Nsue is naturally a striker and that he had ‘great faith’ in B team right back Ximo – something which he had forwarded on to Michael Laudrup.
  • As promised, the B team also had movement too. Dani Castellano joined Ceuta (loan), Marín joined Alcoyano (loan), Joan Grasa joined Alcudia (loan), Galera joins Peña Deportiva and Cerdà has joined Poblense.
  • Meanwhile, French left back N’golo Diarrá and Villarreal C midfielder Manu Torres have both joined the B team.
Wednesday 2nd February 2011
  • Laudrup has called B team striker Abdón to train with the first team ahead of the weekends clash with Osasuna.
Thursday 3rd February 2011
  • Laudrup gave his players a 45-minute pep talk at La Ciutat Esportiva. With six defeats in eight matches, the Dane really requires a response.
  • Ratinho is one step closer to his loan move to Sao Paulo. It will be a twelve month loan deal that expires on 31st December to coincide with the Brazilian footballing calender. It will, however, contain a clause that allows Mallorca to call him back to the club in June should they so choose.
Real Mallorca B League Round-Up

On the morning of Sunday 30th January, the day before the madness ensued, Real Mallorca B took on Alicante CF in the league hoping to chalk some points on the board. The match, which was played at La Ciutat Esportiva, was attended by several first team players such as Nsue and Nunes and vice-president Serra Ferrer was in attendance too. But it didn’t start well as an Alex García cross was met by Javi Seral who gave Alicante the lead after 35 minutes.

Mallorca’s performance did improve and they equalised on 62 minutes when Aridai smashed home from the right hand side of the penalty area. The Balearic Islanders pushed on for a winner but couldn’t quite take their chances. And with three minutes to go, it looked as if promotion chasing Alicante had won it when former Mallorca striker Nacho Casanova beat the offside trap to smash home was would surely be the winner past the furious Tomeu Nadal.

But it just wan’t to be as three minutes into stoppage time the two Mallorca substitutes combined. A hopeful cross from Joan Grasa (who left the club the next day) saw Bardolet beat his marker and head the ball over Alberto to rescue a point for the home side.

Full time: Real Mallorca B 2-2 Alicante CF

Real Mallorca B: Tomeu, Jaime, Ramón, Uche, Pablo, Alberto, Aridai, Pina, Abdón (Bardolet 67), Didac, Dani (Grasa 57).
Goals: Aridai 62; Bardolet 90.

Alicante CF: Alberto, Paco, Forte, Jon Uriarte (Diego Manzano 68), Alex García, Alcantara, Dani García, Oscar Martín (Serramitja 75), Didac, Javi Salero (Ruben Martinez 88), Nacho Casanova.
Goals: Javi Seral 35; Nacho Casanova 87.

Segunda División B Highlights

(3 of 4 Mallorca B goals from 00:53 – out of order, second Alicante goal first and then two Mallorca goals in order)

(note: the manager being interviewed is Real Mallorca legend Gustavo Siviero who is now manager of Atlético Baleares who are based in Palma de Mallorca)

Copa Federación

Real Mallorca B were also in action in the Copa Federación (lower level competition for teams who aren’t taking part, or were knocked out in, the Copa del Rey). On Wednesday night they took on Caravaca in the Quarter Final first leg at La Ciutat Esportiva.

A weakened Real Mallorca B put in a good performance to come back from 1-0 down to beat Caravaca 2-1. Kiko’s goal six minutes into the second half gave the away side an advantage in the tie. But goals from Aleix and Aridai on 57 and 65 minutes respectively mean the Islanders will take an advantage to Murcia for the second leg.

If one thing was apparent, though. It is that cup football at any level isn’t really appreciated in Spain. Whether it be the Copa del Rey with the A team, or the Copa Federación for the B team – only half the usual attendees showed to watch a makeshift youth team stroll to a slender victory.

Full time: Real Mallorca B 2-1 Caravaca CF

Real Mallorca B: Javi Seral, Damián (Miguel Angel 63), Polaco, Alberto, Ramón, Hervé, Aleix, Tiá, Bardolet (Jaime 66), Torres, Guy (Aridai 63).
Goals: Aleix 57; Aridai 65.

Caravaca CF: Emilio, Miroslav, Gavilán (Kiko 45), Alfonso, Campillo, Rojas (Pelusa 62), Andrés, Alex, Miguel Angel (Atila 62), Georgi, Edu.
Goal: Kiko 51.

(from next week, the weekly summaries will be posted on a Monday rather than a Friday to include the fall out from the weekends action as well as a quicker Mallorca B round-up)