A Leeds United youngster has paid an emotional tribute to his loan club after a painful final-day relegation was confirmed.
While Mateo Joseph's parent club Leeds were home and dry in their survival race long before the final weekend of the season, his loan club were still deep in the mire. Mallorca were up against already-relegated opposition Real Oviedo on a day when two relegation spots could still be filled by any of five clubs. Despite a 3-0 win, results elsewhere and the goal difference picture did not swing the way it needed to for Mallorca and MartÃn Demichelis' men were condemned to 18th place in the final La Liga table and a return to the second tier. Two other teams above them also finished on 42 points but with a better goal difference. A further trio of teams ended the campaign on 43 points.
Joseph, who made it clear last summer he did not want to spend the season at Leeds and asked for a move back to Spain, penned an emotional social media message to the club he now departs.
"It's been hard to find the words for these past few days," he said. "When I got here I came borrowed but the reality is that from the first moment you never made me feel 'passed by.' I felt like part of the club, the locker room, and the city. And that, in such an important year for me, is worth a lot."
The striker started 19 of the first 30 La Liga fixtures for his loan club, coming off the bench a further 10 times. He scored two goals and added four assists, the last of which came in a famous win over Real Madrid in April. That was his final appearance, an ACL injury leaving him in need of surgery and unable to contribute to the survival bid.
"It hurts I didn't get to finish the season on the field," he said. "Injury came at a difficult time and I wish I could help more, be there until the end and give back a bit of everything I've received this year. Still, I have lived every game, every moment and every strike as one more. I know exactly how much this team has worked and how much this locker room has suffered. Sometimes football doesn't give back what you deserve, but I have no doubt that this club will go back where it belongs."
Joseph concluded his message with his gratitude to the sporting director and manager who signed him, and the boss he worked under for the latter stages after the club made a managerial change. And he told fans he believes the relegation will bring them closer to their club.
"Thanks to everyone who forms part of Mallorca, colleagues, staff, doctors and all the people who work every day within the club," he said. "Also to Pablo Ortells and Jagoba Arrasate for trusting me to be part of this project from the beginning. And to Demichelis, for this last stretch of the season lived together. And most of all thanks to the fans. If a player on loan ends up feeling this shield as his, it's for you. I wish you the best, from the bottom of my heart. I am convinced that this is not the end, but the beginning of something that will make you even more close together."
Joseph returns to Leeds this summer with his future uncertain. He told Daniel Farke he did not feel ready to travel to Sweden last summer for a pre-season friendly with Manchester United and then opted not to join the squad in Germany for a training camp. Leeds were insistent that they would only consider a loan exit for a 22-year-old who still has two years left on his Elland Road contract.
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