I Am Jose

For Mallorca fans, this summer had been an absolute delight.

At the end of June, their club secured its first-ever Copa del Rey trophy, and within just a month, a series of exciting transfers filled supporters with confidence. While the departure of fan-favorite Ibagaza to Valencia was disappointing, the arrivals of Spanish international Rufete and Belgian international Van Buyten softened the blow. Additionally, the signings of Pablo García, who had previously impressed in La Liga, along with two promising young strikers, bolstered Mallorca's squad depth even more than last season—perfectly aligning with the demands of a three-front campaign.

Mallorca's conservative spending in the transfer market—prioritizing rational investments over reckless spending—was met with little resistance from fans. After all, the club had always operated this way: selling a few players, buying a few replacements. In fact, this summer marked one of the lowest transfer market profits in years. Factoring in last winter's spending spree, it was clear to everyone that Mallorca's leadership was making a serious push for success. For the fans, that commitment alone was enough.

Beyond football, Mallorca's rapid development was another hot topic. Some residents welcomed the economic boom, while others feared it would damage the island's natural beauty. However, the Balearic regional council assured the public that historic and ecologically preserved areas in the north, southwest, northwest, and northeast of the island would remain untouched. The current development was focused on the relatively barren southern region, which lacked historical landmarks and had little agricultural value. Rather than letting the land sit idle, officials saw an opportunity to harness Mallorca's unique advantages to bring prosperity to the island's residents.

Given Mallorca's long history of immigration, its locals had an inherently tolerant attitude toward newcomers—many of them were only a few generations removed from being immigrants themselves.

The first batch of construction workers recruited for the development had already arrived, with enticing incentives: in addition to competitive wages, those willing to settle permanently on the island were promised a free small private apartment in the newly developed housing areas—though they would still have to pay property taxes and other associated costs.

All 10,000 available slots for construction workers were quickly filled. Upon arrival, they set up temporary shelters in Llucmajor, where their first task was to build roads according to the initial development plan. After that, they would construct their own homes.

Job security was not a concern for them—nothing suits a construction worker better than a city undergoing massive development. Even after this project ended, opportunities in other parts of Mallorca would remain abundant, given the island's thriving tourism industry and expanding infrastructure.

For the local residents, whose livelihoods mostly revolved around the service sector, the surge in population meant increased business and higher incomes. With more people to feed, clothe, and house, the local economy received a significant boost.

More money in their pockets meant happier spirits, and so, with great enthusiasm, Mallorca fans eagerly awaited the team's first official match of the new season...

August 12: Mallorca vs. Real Madrid – Spanish Super Cup First Leg