Mallorca's Transfer Window Nightmares Are Coming Back to Haunt Arrasate
Jagoba Arrasate is under pressure at Mallorca, but the club's disastrous recruitment is just as much to blame for their relegation battle.
Mallorca hit a new low at Balaídos on Sunday, and the cracks running through this squad are starting to look less like hairlines and more like the San Andreas fault.
A Manager Under Pressure — But Not the Only One in the Dock
Jagoba Arrasate is clearly struggling to find answers. He’s tried different systems, different personnel, different approaches — and yet Mallorca keep shipping goals and creating next to nothing going forward. The Basque coach deserves scrutiny, no question. But if you’re pointing fingers, the sporting director needs to be standing in that line too.
Because the recruitment over the past year or so? Honestly, it’s been a bit of a dog’s dinner.
The Summer Signings That Haven’t Delivered
Let’s run through the summer business:
- Pablo Torre — arrived with real expectation, but has barely made a dent. Whether that’s an adaptation issue or Arrasate simply not getting the best out of him, the results aren’t there.
- Bergström — brought in as backup to Leo Román, so the bar was always lower. Fine.
- Mateo Joseph — scored a brace at Sevilla and… not much else. He’s also regularly being played out of position, which helps nobody.
- Marash Kumbulla — supposed to provide cover at centre-back, but he’s spent more time in the physio room than on the pitch and has slipped to fourth choice behind David López.
- Jan Virgili — the one bright spot, it has to be said. Pure directness and energy. Could improve his end product, but he’s been one of the few genuine positives on the island this season.
The Winter Window Was Even Worse
Arrasate had been screaming out for wide reinforcements since the summer. Everyone could see the problem. And yet, when January came around, the response was… underwhelming, to put it politely.
- Justin Kalumba joined a couple of weeks before the deadline — openly described as a signing for the future, not for now. He hasn’t even made his debut yet.
- Luvumbo rocked up on deadline day, having contributed zero goals or assists in 14 Serie A appearances this season. He’s managed 45 minutes so far — in a defeat to Betis.
- Jan Salas returned from his loan at Córdoba, only to immediately pick up a serious knee injury.
Between the lot of them, the January additions have contributed precisely 45 minutes of football. That’s it.
The Bigger Picture
Mallorca are in the relegation places, and this is a club-wide problem. Arrasate will be doing his nut trying to work out how to turn this around — and he has to own his share of the blame. But a manager can only work with what he’s given, and right now the squad is riddled with players who either aren’t fit for purpose or simply haven’t been used properly.
The puzzle Arrasate is trying to solve looks less like a Sunday afternoon activity and more like one where half the pieces belong to a completely different box.