Chapter 120: Not Stable Enough
José wasn't making a spur-of-the-moment decision when he took an interest in this rebellious-looking young player.
From the two defensive plays just now, José could see that this young man, Matías, had outstanding physical qualities. He was tall but not clumsy. Though he lacked top-end speed and had a slow turning radius, his excellent physicality, jumping ability, positioning, and aggressive mindset made up for it. Besides, turning speed could be compensated with experience. Many top-level center-backs weren't particularly agile in their turns, yet that never stopped them from becoming elite defenders. For a center-back, speed and agility weren't everything.
José also had a pretty good idea of why Matías had been overlooked and constantly used as a training dummy for attacking players. Spanish teams still prioritized attack over defense. They valued offensive players while showing little regard for defenders. Matías' slow turning speed only made it easier for people to write him off. On top of that, he was likely the type to have a fiery temper, unwilling to be someone else's punching bag. Naturally, this made it even harder for him to gain recognition.
A talented center-back being ignored for all the wrong reasons—José wasn't about to let this opportunity slip away. And the best part? Matías was still under seventeen and hadn't signed a professional contract yet. That meant José could bring him in for free, pay him a modest wage, and if things didn't work out, there'd be no real loss. But if he did pan out, it'd be an absolute steal.
After bidding farewell to the now-excited father and son, José returned to the team's hotel. It was almost time for the squad to regroup and head back to Mallorca. Whether Matías decided to come or not was no longer his concern. The youngster would start in the youth team and might get called up to the reserves if they were short on numbers. At this stage, he wasn't needed in the first team.
Solving the issue of Matías' slow turning speed would require more than just targeted training—it also required experience. Only by facing a variety of forwards could he improve his anticipation and compensate for his weaknesses. Take Nadal, for example. Was he slow? Yes—very slow. Especially this past season at Mallorca, as age caught up with him, his turning speed declined even further. Yet, he remained one of La Liga's top defenders because of his vast experience. His seemingly clumsy but highly effective defensive work consistently shut down opposition attacks.
That evening, after resting for a day in Madrid, the Mallorca squad returned to the island, where they were greeted by a hero's welcome. Mallorca's fans were easy to please—just one victory over Real Madrid was enough to make them celebrate as if they had won a championship.
The short break didn't seem to affect Mallorca's form. In the second leg of their Copa del Rey third-round tie, despite fielding a squad mixed with starters and backups, they still secured a victory. Delgado bagged a brace, showcasing fine form.
Three consecutive league wins and two cup victories had the entire Mallorca camp buzzing with excitement. They were now fifth in the league, had reached the Copa del Rey quarterfinals, and although they had no European competition this season, they had a chance to make history in both domestic competitions.