Chapter 180: After the Winter Break
The week passed quickly, and after the New Year, the team regrouped. José submitted Roa's name for the league roster, allowing him to play for Mallorca in the second half of the season.
Drogba also returned to the first team. Over the past month, both he and Roa had performed well with the reserves. Roa significantly reduced Mallorca B's goals conceded, while Drogba, despite scoring only twice in six games, created numerous opportunities for his teammates. Their contributions helped Mallorca B secure four wins in six matches, moving them away from the relegation zone and even into the top half of the table, easing the pressure of the relegation battle.
José's decision to send them to the reserves wasn't about getting stellar results but about helping them adjust to the pace of competitive matches. Now that they had done so, it was time for them to return.
During this period, several clubs expressed interest in Mallorca's players. However, most of these were mid-table teams that lacked the appeal to lure Mallorca's talent away. At this stage, Mallorca had become a more attractive destination than these suitors.
The squad had no glaring weaknesses, and unless a true superstar became available—one who could immediately elevate Mallorca's level—there was no need for reinforcements. However, such elite players were out of Mallorca's price range. Unlike last winter, when the club was active in the transfer market, this time, Mallorca remained quiet—neither buying nor selling players.
That said, the club did make some acquisitions. Piri had returned from his scouting trip to the Canary Islands, bringing back three promising 15-year-olds born in 1986.
One of them was named David Silva.
Upon seeing the name, José burst into laughter in his office. He had long coveted Valencia's future midfield maestro but only knew that Silva had come through Valencia's youth academy. After searching through Valencia's academy records and failing to find him, José had resigned himself to missing out on a future star.
Yet, to his delight, Piri had unearthed him from the Canary Islands!