Thirty-year-old Argentinian centre half Lucas Aveldaño put pen to paper on Wednesday evening at Son Moix when he signed for Real Mallorca on a season-long loan with a view to a more permanent deal next year. “El Pela” has an Italian passport and has played for Atletico Rafaela, Racing de Avallaneda, Belgrano and New Chicago all in the Argentine primera league. At the presentation he said he was ready for the challenge of getting Real Mallorca back into La Liga in their centenary year.
It was also confirmed at the press conference that we've brought in the young 19-year-old Reading mid-fielder Aaron Kuhl, who was The Royals Under 21s captain last season. It's thought Kuhl will train with the team and be assessed by coach Chapi Ferrer to see whether Mallorca will take him on a more lasting basis and he's expected to be in the party for two friendly games in Holland tonight and tomorrow. The spring-haired Kuhl is the son of Reading coach and former Portsmouth mid-fielder Martin Kuhl and has been mooted by, amongst others, Manchester City.
Spanish wonder kid and ex Mallorca player Marco Asensio will go out on loan to La Liga club Real Betis in the up-coming season. His new club, Real Madrid, sent him on holiday after Spain won the recent Under 19 European championships in Greece. It was thought he might be included in Rafa Benitez's first team squad but the Bernabeu club have decided to loan him out to the newly promoted Seville club for one season to gain La Liga experience.
Any chance that club legend Ariel Caño Ibagaza would join Mallorca training sessions with a view to signing on have been scuppered by coach “Chapi.” The 38-year-old had two great spells at Real Mallorca and indicated he wanted to end his career at the club. However Ferrer said he was pleased to hear Ibagaza wanted to train at Son Bibiloni but as far as he was concerned the diminutive Argentinian was not part of his playing staff. This is the third summer in five years that “Cano” said he might come back for a third time – now the idea is well and truly over.
In other news the proposed project regarding installing stands behind the goals at the Son Moix depends on the number of fans who want to sit in them. Before and if work starts, the club have to know roughly what size to build. After an initial meeting with supporters clubs, who stated they liked the idea of being moved closer to the pitch, it's now a question of how many fans are really up for the idea as work has to begin as soon as possible. The club, however, still need the green light from Palma council who at the moment still hold an interest in the Son Moix.