Real Mallorca sign midfielder Jonathan De Guzman
La Liga team Real Mallorca have completed the signing of Jonathan de Guzman from Eredivisie side Feyenoord on a free transfer. According to Mallorca’s official website, the attacking midfielder has signed a three-year contract with his new club. De Guzman is the club’s first signing of the summer.
New coach Michael Laudrop has been keen to add to his squad ahead of the new season beginning and had made the signing of an attacking midfielder one of his top priorities. Other teams said to have been interested in the Canadian-born player include Valencia, Espanyol, Hamburg, Koeln, PSV, Twente and CSKA Moscow; but he has opted to join the Islanders instead.
Club owner Lorenc Serra Ferrer has high hopes for the attacker: "He is a young footballer who is technically gifted, versatile, capable of adapting to any position in midfield and he gets into good finishing positions," he said. "He will adapt to our culture and I have no doubt he will be a success here."
Youngster’s delight
De Guzman spoke of his delight at joining Mallorca as he told the club’s website: "I am very happy and proud to be here at Mallorca — I have thought a lot about this moment. I have a great interest in the Spanish league and the most important thing is the faith the club has shown in me. I have spoken a lot to Serra Ferrer and Laudrup and the most important thing is the faith they have shown in me, not the Europa League."
De Guzman joined the Dutch outfit’s youth academy at the age of 12 and opted to play for Holland’s national set-up instead of the country of his birth, where he would have potentially lined-up against his brother. He has yet to line-up for the Netherlands at full international level, however, so should he change his mind he will still be eligible to play for Canada.
The midfielder played 109 games for Feyenoord in five seasons and scored 23 times. He has long been heralded as one of the brightest young prospects in European football, with the likes of English Premier League (EPL) giants Chelsea and Manchester City looking to secure his services.
Having agreed on personal terms, he was on the verge of signing for Manchester City two years ago, but the deal was scrapped after the Eastlands side could not agree on a transfer fee with Feyenoord. De Guzman's last two seasons with the Dutch club were plagued by groin, thigh and knee injuries, damaging any chances he may have had to move to a big EPL club. He opted out of signing a new deal with Feyenoord at the end of last season, allowing him to sign for any club under freedom of contract.
By moving to Spain’s top flight, the 22 year-old has followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Canada international Julian de Guzman, who starred for Deportivo La Coruna for five seasons before moving to hometown club Toronto FC last year on a three-year deal. Real Mallorca began their La Liga campaign on Aug. 29th when they hosted Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Mallorca have announced the release of right-back Felipe Mattioni. The Brazilian arrived at the club on loan last season from Italians AC Milan, and Mallorca were given the option of buying 50% of the player’s sporting rights. Mallorca took up that option, but Mattioni later said he did not want to play for the Islanders and did not appear for training. The 21 year-old, who played 15 times during his loan spell and scored once, is now expected to join Primera Division rivals Real Zaragoza on a free transfer.
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