Real Mallorca beat local third division side Poblense 2-1 in the 43rd annual Trofeu de S'Agricultura held in Sa Pobla on Sunday night. This game was by all accounts another totally underwhelming pre-season kick-about. Mallorca went ahead in the 14th minute when Coro laid the ball off to Pereira who hammered home a left-foot shot from just outside the area. The Frenchman now looks to be back to full fitness after missing most of the summer through injury. New striker “Torito” Acuna left the pitch after 22 minutes as a precautionary measure with what looked like a groin strain and was replaced by Joselu.
Just after the break Mallorca went two up when once again Pereira was involved. His hard cross was turned into his own net by Nico. The home side pulled one back when Marti scored, then Joselu was sent off for Mallorca for dissent, as play petered out into a training session.
This was Mallorca's last friendly before things start in earnest on Saturday away at Alcorcon in the big centennial kick off.
Mallorca need to sell at least three squad members to bring in three new players to complete the line up for the new season. Pau Cendros is on his way to Segunda club Lugo and Gai Assulin looks likely to go back home to Israeli team Hapoel Tel Aviv. Both these players have agreed their severance pay but there's still one squad member who won't go easily: centre back Agus, who is one of Mallorca's biggest earners hasn't accepted his pay-off terms. Mallorca refuse to pay his asking price of 160,000 euros, calling it “disproportionate” to his market value. He in turn says: “If the enemy isn't resting, then neither will I,” which sounds like the famous Eric Cantona “seagulls following the trawler” quote back in the day. I have a feeling this episode could run until the end of the month.