After a week when a friend sent me the following poolside notices he saw on a recent trip to Thailand – “Don’t use the diving board when the swimming pool is empty; Pool open 24 hours, Lifeguard on duty 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Drowning absolutely prohibited” – Real Mallorca signed one of Spanish football’s rising young stars, 19-year-old Jan Virgili from Barcelona. They receive over three million euros and will also retain a 50% sell-on and buy-back clause. Barça club officials have been very keen to retain control of the player’s future.
Within hours of it being known that Barça and Mallorca had agreed a deal on Wednesday evening, he was on the first flight to Palma. After the compulsory medical on Thursday, it is expected Virgili will be part of the travelling party heading to Madrid.
In theory, this is an ideal move for the young star and Barcelona will be able to take him back if it’s deemed necessary in the coming years. At 19, Virgili is seen as one of Barcelona’s brightest young talents and will bring creativity and pace to a Mallorca side that has been crying out for a left winger for a long time. His dribbling skills are brilliant and you can check them out on YouTube. His goal celebrations are also worth watching, with his backward double somersaults. There’s no doubt this young guy is box office, and it’s ironic to think that if he’d stayed at Barça Atletico (their second team), he’d be playing this weekend in Porreres in Mallorca in Liga Segunda RFEF. Instead, he’ll be on the bench at the Santiago Bernabeu. All we need now is for Cyle Larin to sign for Andraitx and the plan’s almost coming together!
REAL MADRID MATCH TOMORROW
Real Mallorca’s tough start to their season continues this weekend when on Saturday night (30th) they play Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu, kick off 21:30. In the corresponding fixture in May, Mallorca almost provided an upset. Martin Valjent put the islanders into the lead after 11 minutes, Mbappe equalised in the 68th minute and it was backs to the wall for the visitors. Then following Madrid’s 26th corner of the night they scored the winner in the 95th minute. Our defence blocked shots galore but it was goalkeeper Leo Roman we had to thank for keeping the score down. Roman was immense, he saved and parried efforts from just about every angle. On Saturday he returns to a stadium that knows him well as he faces the expected siege from “Los Meringues.”
Mallorca should have the suspended Muriqi and Morlanes back and it’s likely we’ll have five at the back with new signing Marash Kumbulla making his first start. Desperate to bounce back, Real Madrid have reinforced their defence and hired Xabi Alonso to steer the ship back on course – but he has his work cut out. Their squad is top heavy, unbalanced and lacks crucial profiles. However, Mbappe looks a different proposition so far and our defence will once again come under pressure for long periods. One player who’s had a sluggish start is marquee signing Trent Alexander Arnold from Liverpool. With club captain Dani Carvajal returned to full fitness after knee surgery, Trent (as he’s called now) isn’t guaranteed a starting position. At Liverpool he was in a protected cocoon. In Madrid he’s in a cut-throat environment where he simply can’t slip up – it’s sink or swim time.
Marca reported on Wednesday that the Spanish football disciplinary committee in Madrid had threatened Real Mallorca with ground closure after one of the backroom staff threw a ball onto the pitch during our game against Celta Vigo last Saturday. One of our physiotherapists, Magin Vicens, threw the ball onto the pitch interrupting a Celta throw in and was immediately shown a straight red card. Magin has been suspended for three matches for incorrect conduct and will miss match days 3, 4 and 5. Silly boy!
AND FINALLY, The Way Women Think. Husband’s message (by mobile phone) : Hi, Sweet Cheeks, I got hit by a car outside the office. Paula took me to the hospital. They have been doing tests and taking X rays. The blow to my head, though very strong will not, evidently, have any serious or lasting affect. But I have three broken ribs, a broken arm, a compound fracture in the left leg, and they may have to amputate my right foot. Wife’s response : Who’s Paula ?