Real Mallorca has started the second phase of its pre-season in Marbella, with two friendly matches scheduled and several signings in progress. The Balearic team is aiming for direct promotion under the orders of Luis García.
Real Mallorca has headed to Marbella to begin the second phase of its preparation for the 2026-2027 season. The red-and-black team, which has a clear objective of direct promotion to the First Division, will undertake a week-long training camp on the Costa del Sol, where they will play two friendly matches and continue to shape the squad.
The Mallorca expedition departed this Friday from Son Sant Joan airport heading to Málaga, with coach Luis García Fernández at the helm. The Oviedo native has settled well in the dressing room after two intense weeks of work at Son Bibiloni, and now the time has come to see the first minutes of his team on the pitch.
The first test will be this Saturday at 19:00 against Al-Fateh Sports Club, a Saudi team. The second friendly is scheduled for Thursday, July 30, the last day of the training camp, against Al-Ittihad's under-21 team. These matches will serve to start to glimpse Luis García's playing style, characterised by a balance between defensive solidity and vertical football.
In his presentation, the coach was clear: "I want us to be protagonists with or without the ball, to defend high and not to fear mistakes. The biggest mistake is not to play when you always work to play." These statements mark the philosophy he will try to instil in the team.
The training camp in Marbella will not only serve for the sporting aspect but also to close several market operations. The CEO of Football, Pablo Ortells, is expected to join the expedition in the coming days to continue working on the various open dossiers. The signings of Adrián Fuentes, Arnau Puigmal, Soumahoro, Zito Luvumbo, and Alex Sala will not be the last.
One of the most advanced operations is the sale of Samu Costa to Saudi Al-Nassr, which is being delayed due to the club's 'financial engineering' to save part of the capital gains payment to Almería. Mallorca wants Al-Nassr to assume part of the Portuguese's last year's salary to reduce the money that will go to Almería's coffers.
Additionally, the Balearic club is still working on two more signings: the acquisition of goalkeeper Arnau Tenas, with optimism from both Mallorca and Villarreal that the operation will close, and the loan of Antoniu Roca, a 23-year-old winger from Espanyol. Both could join during the training camp in Marbella, which is expected to be quite dynamic.
On the physical front, the team has two significant absences: Justin Kalumba felt a twinge against Mallorca B and is likely facing a muscle tear, while Arnau Puigmal has also experienced discomfort in his calf. Both players could miss the first friendlies.
Mallorca approaches this pre-season with the pressure of being among the favourites for promotion. The board has set the goal of fighting for direct promotion, and a competitive squad is being assembled for this purpose. The training camp in Marbella, at the Marbella Football Center, will be key for the team to get into shape and for the coach to start implementing his playing ideas.
For Mallorca fans, these days on the Costa del Sol will be an opportunity to see the first glimpses of the new project. The two friendlies, although against lower-tier opponents, will serve to assess the team's condition and Luis García's initial tactical decisions.
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