Chapter 144: An Open Mallorca
José was very satisfied with his trips to Belgium and France. With the addition of two big players—one in attack and one in defense—Mallorca's previously weak striker and center-back positions were now significantly reinforced.
Up front, Luke and Eto'o would remain the main strikers for the next season. Krasniqić, with his good speed and excellent ball control, would be their best backup. Meanwhile, the physically strong and impactful Drogba would provide a tactical alternative. These four players all had the capability to score double-digit goals in a season. As long as José used them wisely, he wouldn't have to worry about goals.
In central defense, Van Buyten was set to be a starter alongside Nadal, forming Mallorca's core defensive duo. Gamarra and Niño would serve as backups—Niño as Van Buyten's substitute and Gamarra as Nadal's. This pairing ensured that one defender would be aggressive while the other remained steady. Until Mallorca could find two center-backs with both strength and speed, this combination was a solid solution.
On the left flank, Capdevila and Olaso would cover the left-back position, with Kaladze also available as an option. On the right, Jorge and Campano provided sufficient depth. In defensive midfield, Motta would be the anchor, with Márquez providing additional support. If García's signing went through, the team would be fully covered in that area, with three defensive midfielders and Kaladze—who also had strong defensive capabilities—allowing flexibility for both a double-pivot and a three-man midfield.
The left midfield position lacked a dedicated player, but Capdevila and Ronaldinho could both fill in when needed. Ronaldinho was also the undisputed starting attacking midfielder, with Novo capable of deputizing when necessary. If Mallorca could secure the signings of Pablo García and Rufete, every position on the team would have at least one or two quality players. This squad was well-balanced and had a good age structure.
After returning to Mallorca, José quickly received good news—AC Milan had lost interest in García. His performances last season had been underwhelming, and since Milan had only spent a mere $1 million on his initial transfer, they were happy to offload him for the same amount. Mallorca snapped him up without hesitation.
Rufete's transfer was more complicated. Málaga was reluctant to let go of their key player, but Mallorca's qualification for the Champions League proved to be a decisive factor. Málaga had finished ninth last season and failed to qualify for European competition. As a Spanish international, Rufete was eager to showcase his abilities on a bigger stage.
After rounds of negotiations, Mallorca secured Rufete for $6 million plus striker Carlos. He signed a five-year contract with an annual salary of $500,000. At 24 years old, Rufete officially became a Mallorca player.
With five new signings and three departures, Mallorca's first-team squad now stood at 23 players—a perfectly reasonable number.
José did some calculations and was pleasantly surprised to find that the club had actually made a profit from transfers this season. Soller left on a free transfer to a second-division team, while Ibagaza and Delgado were sold for a combined $15 million—Delgado alone fetched $3 million from Southampton. Meanwhile, Mallorca's five signings cost a total of just $11.2 million:
Krasniqić: Free transfer