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

Pablo García: $1 million

Van Buyten: $2.7 million

Drogba: $1.5 million

Rufete: $6 million

This left Mallorca with a surplus of $3.8 million.

José secretly instructed the staff to deposit the remaining transfer funds into the club's account. As for the $3 million that Grande had planned to pocket? He decided to hold onto it and use it gradually. With minimal spending in the transfer market and upcoming Champions League revenue, Mallorca's financial outlook for the season looked quite promising.

"Hmm, might as well expand the training facilities," José mused, stroking his chin. There was still plenty of unused land around the complex, and letting it go to waste seemed unnecessary. He wasn't in it for personal profit—any income would be reinvested into the club, building it up step by step.

Mallorca had executed a well-calculated summer transfer window. Using the funds generated from the departures of Ibagaza and Delgado, they successfully completed a squad overhaul. The new team was well-balanced, with a reasonable mix of ages. While many of the new arrivals were not yet well-known, they possessed significant potential. José was confident that he could lead this squad to an even better season.

Meanwhile, the European transfer market was in full swing:

Zidane moved to Real Madrid for a world-record fee.

Juventus reinvested the money to sign Nedvěd, Buffon, and Thuram.

Manchester United acquired Verón.

Lazio, having lost both Nedvěd and Verón, signed Mendieta from Valencia.

Valencia, in turn, replaced Mendieta by signing Ibagaza from Mallorca.

And Mallorca brought in Rufete from Málaga.

It was a classic case of "big fish eat little fish, and little fish eat shrimp."

But while the European transfer market was ablaze, something even more shocking was happening in Mallorca.

Previously, Mallorca had been a conservative and closed-off island. In an effort to protect the environment, the local council even imposed an environmental protection tax on tourists. But now, the regional government seemed to be shifting its stance.

Mallorca spans nearly 4,000 square kilometers, but its 600,000 residents were concentrated mainly around the Palma Bay area, which accounted for less than 5% of the island's total land. The rest consisted of untouched landscapes—wilderness, cliffs, and farmland. But that was about to change.

The Balearic regional government announced plans to develop the Llucmajor area, located east of Palma Bay.

This area, spanning over 400 square kilometers—more than twice the size of the current main urban zone—boasted a flat landscape with a coastline on the south, southwest, and southeast, mountains to the north, and direct connectivity to Palma Bay in the west.

The announcement sent shockwaves across Spain!

Not only did the regional government unveil plans to develop Llucmajor, but they also announced an immigration policy for the Balearic Islands, prioritizing construction workers, doctors, and teachers. The area was set to become a vast entertainment district, primarily focused on the service industry.

Spaniards had always been keen on migration, a trait rooted in their colonial history. Though Spain's population was under 50 million, more than 3 million Spaniards lived abroad—2 million in the Americas and over a million across Europe. The idea of seeking better living conditions was deeply ingrained, especially among Castilians. In contrast, Basques and Catalans were more insular.

For years, the Balearic Islands had been seen as a paradise, offering a favorable climate and a thriving tourism industry. However, strict environmental protections had severely limited immigration. Now, the government was opening the doors, and people quickly recognized the immense business potential.

Mallorca was already a prime tourist destination, but its attractions were scattered across the northern and eastern coasts. The Palma Bay area was primarily composed of hotels and residential areas. Unlike other tourist hotspots, Mallorca lacked a vibrant nightlife or extravagant entertainment districts—it was a beautiful but somewhat dull place.

That was why José had chosen to hold the team's vacation in Madrid—there was simply nothing exciting to do in Mallorca.

Every major city had its gray areas, but Mallorca had been too clean, which had hindered its growth.

Now, with plans to develop a region twice the size of Palma Bay into a service-oriented entertainment district, Mallorca was poised to become more than just a vacation spot—it was on track to becoming a long-term destination where visitors would want to stay.

Within just three days of the announcement, several major hotel chains had already reached agreements with the regional government to acquire development rights in the area. However, construction could not begin immediately—the government first needed to lay out infrastructure, such as roads, before gradually releasing the land for development.

The first wave of immigrants would be construction workers, transforming Llucmajor into a massive construction site. While this would disrupt the local environment, it would also breathe life into the region.

Mallorca was now an open Mallorca!

"Holy shit, that's a massive move!"

José was stunned when he heard the news.

He had anticipated some population growth—after all, the system had promised an increase of 100,000 people—but this decision guaranteed a long-term population boom.

And those first arrivals? Construction workers—potential football fans! Historically, many English and German clubs had been founded by working-class communities. Miners, factory workers, and laborers often turned to football as their primary source of entertainment.

Even though these newcomers weren't Mallorca fans yet, they soon would be. José was sure of it!

The only downside?

"Damn it! Just imagine how much money I could make if I had the development rights!" José drooled at the thought. But he knew that wasn't an option.

"Damn it! I earned this reward, yet other people are reaping the benefits!" He grumbled, cursing the system's rule that restricted his profits to club-related expenses.