Mateo Joseph refused to turn up for pre-season training and handed in a transfer request to force his way out of Leeds United in the summer. The club ultimately agreed to loan him out to Spanish club Mallorca, but with no chance of a permanent deal.
Joseph still has admirers at Leeds, and the club were hell-bent on making sure that he returns to Elland Road next summer following his loan spell. Not including a buy option was a condition the Whites were insistent upon, and they got their wish.
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Real Betis wanted to sign him, but Leeds’ insistence on not including an option to buy scuppered the deal, and ultimately, Mallorca stepped up and were more than happy to agree to sign him on a simple loan deal this summer.
The Spain Under-21 star appeared to be happy to join the club earlier this month, but has yet to score a goal for Mallorca in three league appearances. The move is turning out to be a nightmare for the attacker as things continue to unravel at the Spanish club.
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Leeds United loanee Mateo Joseph has found himself struggling in a divided Mallorca dressing room
Mallorca lost 3-0 at home to Barcelona in their opening game before earning a point against Celta Vigo. However, since their 2-1 defeat at Real Madrid over the weekend, things have got out of hand behind the scenes at the club.
The dressing room is in chaos after experienced playmaker Dani Rodriguez criticised coach Jagoba Arrasate for not giving him a single minute in the game at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The midfielder’s family were in attendance for the match, leaving him furious when the coach chose not to bring him off the bench against Real Madrid.
His decision to lash out at youngster Jan Virgili has further infuriated the club’s hierarchy, deepening the divide within both the squad and the dressing room.
Mallorca sporting director Pablo Ortelles said: “We don’t like these types of statements questioning the coach’s decisions.”
Fans are disappointed, given Rodriguez’s stature at the club, and there have been several meetings over the last few days to try and diffuse the tension.
The Mallorca dressing room is now being described as being on a ‘powder keg’, ready to explode at any point in the coming days.
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Joseph’s relationship with Farke collapsed in the summer once he decided against turning up for pre-season training, and his loan departure became a necessity.
However, if he continues to struggle at Mallorca and the behind-the-scenes drama threatens to engulf everything at the club, Leeds may have a decision to make.
It is unclear whether the Whites secured a recall clause in the loan agreement, and they could be forced to take him back to Elland Road in January if things turn sour in Spain.
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