Luis Figo has made it clear that he will not be coming out of retirement to play for the islanders.

The former FIFA World Player of the Year officially retired from football at the end of last season after four seasons with Inter Milan.

A reported salary of 3.5m euros per season was on offer for the 36-year-old winger, who has also played in Spain for both Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Speaking to reporters in Portugal Figo said “I’ve heard about the interest but the person who it came from isn’t even the president of the club yet.”

“My assistant knows about the interest from Mallorca, but at this moment my priority is to rest and I’m not thinking about getting back on the pitch.”

“If I wanted to continue playing football I’d have continued playing for Inter Milan.

“My future involves a different professional activity. I can’t say more at the moment, but after hanging up my boots it’s logical that I’m not going to stand still.”

Freddy Shepherd

Monday will see the arrival of former Newcastle owner Freddy Shepherd in Palma to present an ultimatum to the managers of Real Mallorca. Shepherd is launching the offensive to buy control of the club as it struggles to stay afloat and keep the administrator at bay.

The British businessman will likely go straight to court on his arrival, reports the Diario de Mallorca citing anonymous sources, and present his bid to the administrator. It is thought that his offer will not exceed one million euros, a sum that is considered derisory by current majority shareholder Vicenç Grande.

But Shepherd knows that if the offer is rejected by Grande the club will likely go bust, with administrators then legally obliged to secure liquidity, thus playing directly into the businessman´s hands. If this were to happen the legal proceeding would take up to three months and would mean the activities of the club would be placed in limbo. This is time the club can ill afford in its current state of ill health.

Shepherd believes a majority shareholder stake is not even worth a million euros as the club has amassed some 50 million euros of debts. Grande is expected to do everything he can to maintain control of the club and prevent Shepherd from winning ownership.

Real Mallorca, who have only won three times this season and lie just one point above the relegation zone, visit league leaders Barcelona today.

Barcelona currently lead the Primera Liga by 10 points and have been in fantastic form, but Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano believes now may be the best time to face them.

“It’s the least bad time to visit the Nou Camp because of the winter break and because Barcelona have a cup game against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday to think about,” he said.

Mallorca were the last team to triumph in the league at the Nou Camp, when they won 3-2 in the penultimate game of last season.

“We came from behind and we’re the last visiting team to win here in the league,” he recalled.

New goalkeeper Dudu Aouate, who has just signed from Deportivo La Coruna as cover for the injured Miguel Angel Moya, is likely to make his debut.

Barcelona will have Andres Iniesta available after he returns from injury two months early and will hope to pick up where they left off in 2008.

The Catalan outfit have won 13 of their last 14 matches in the league and finished 2008 with four impressive victories over title rivals Sevilla, Valencia, Real Madrid and Villarreal.

Real Mallorca have signed the Israeli goalkeeper Dudu Aouate for 1m euros from cash-strapped Deportivo la Coruña.

Deportivo rejected an 8m euro bid from Valencia in the summer but since then have seen their financial situation worsen and had no choice but to accept the significantly lower offer from Mallorca.

Aouate, 31, has been on the bench at Deportivo all season, with coach Miguel Angel Lotina preferring Daniel Aranzubia.

The Israeli international should make his debut on 3 January against league leaders Barcelona with Mallorca’s first choice keeper Miguel Moya out through injury until February and his replacement German Lux having a poor season, conceding seventeen goals in seven Primera Liga appearances.

Manzano speaking at yesterday's press conference Foto:rcdmallorca.es

Real Mallorca are a side short on points and confidence after going without a win in the league for nearly two months. By contrast Sevilla sit third in the league after beating title rivals Villarreal last weekend.

Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano has come under pressure from fans in recent weeks and knows that anything other than a win could cost him his job. 

Manzano is hoping for the fans backing against Sevilla and in a press conference yesterday asked for them to “leave their handkerchiefs and whistles behind”.

“Now we have to be calm and loyal and I don’t know what more to say to the fans. For us, Sunday is a final and we will be playing for three very important points.”

The visitors will be without striker Freddy Kanoute, who has a groin strain.

Sevilla won the corresponding fixture 2-3 last season.

Joaquin Garcia

The new president of Mallorca Joaquin Garcia, has a little over a month to find a new CEO or owner of the troubled club following the resignation of Vicente Grande. He began his short tenure with a statement outlining his ambition to draw a line under the institutional instability that has paralyzed Real Mallorca. “Today we are facing the final solution to the problems facing the club.”

On 30 January there will be a general shareholders meeting to formalize the appointment of whoever takes over the reins from Vicente Grande. There is no ´Plan B´, it has been revealed. If Garcia can not find anyone to take over the ailing club the matter will move to court. The urgency of the matter was underlined by the fact that bankruptcy administrators have been provisionally called in to deal with the eventuality of a rescuer not being found.

Poor performance sees Mallorca slip into the relegation zone

Getafe continued their recent good form with a convincing 4-1 victory over relegation-threatened Real Mallorca.

Cosmin Contra put the home team in the lead on 13 minutes with a penalty after Ikechukwu Uche had been brought down in the box by Mallorca goalkeeper German Lux.

Uche then got on the scoresheet on the half-hour mark, linking onto Eugen Polanski’s through ball before chipping Lux from the edge of the area.

The visitors got one back almost immediately through Aritz Aduriz.

The former Athletic Bilbao man was quick to pounce on a loose ball having seen his initial shot saved by Abbondanzieri.

Manu made it 3-1 on 71 minutes when he nipped in to beat Lux after Contra’s attempted shot from the edge of the box deflected off a Mallorca defender and fell into his path.

The win was sealed with an easy tap-in from Jaime Gavilan right at the death after man of the match Ikechukwu Uche had hit the post.

The defeat leaves Mallorca in 18th place with title contenders Sevilla, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Villarreal and Valencia to play in their next five matches.

The offer is short of the club’s valuation but Shepherd has promised to inject a further £10m to strengthen the squad if the club stay in the Primera Liga this season.

Mallorca are currently 18th in the table and in the relegation zone.

Real Mallorca were heavily criticised by local media and fans alike after they lost 3-2 to Recreativo last weekend and found themselves one place above the relegation zone.

Manzano: "A good result is the best cure for our current illness"

“These situations are normal when things don’t go well, but we have to remain calm and think with our heads,” Manzano said.

“We can’t panic – we need to be focused. The club has been in worse situations than this and always pulled through. Our aim is still to secure a win in Getafe and to get out of the position we are in. A good result is the best cure for our current illness.”

Getafe coach Victor Munoz has warned his players that the match will not be as easy as some think.

“This is the toughest game we have had to face this month,” Munoz said.

“The team should be able to feel confident but we respect Mallorca and recognise they have some very good players. They have lost their last couple of games and are in a difficult situation, but there is no way that we can afford to relax.

“The three points and another home win would be a key moment for us and help us to believe in ourselves a little bit more.”

Mallorca defender David Navarro is in doubt but midfielder Juan Miguel Callejon has returned from injury and should start.

A source close to Shepherd has confirmed that discussions are set to be held on 11 December.

Shepherd’s initial offer of 16 million euros was deemed insufficient by Mallorca president Vicente Grande, but with few other options available they may be forced to lower their asking price. (DM)