Mojica's starting spot vs Villarreal is in serious doubt

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Johan Mojica
3.200.000€-560.000€ ?

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J3

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Mallorca travel to La Ceramica this Saturday with Johan Mojica in their sights. The full-back arrives after another transatlantic trip and will have little room to prepare. Whether he starts will depend on how he returns from international duty.

Recent experience provides the guide. In the first precedent - before matchday 4 - the calendar worked in the Colombian's favour: the game was on Monday and he had days to land, recover and train. Result: a place in the starting XI and the feeling that, back then, time was his best ally. Across the way, the Villarreal await, turning the fixture into a test of workload management for the bermellones.

The second case was very different. After the break before matchday 9, Mallorca played on Saturday and the margin was reduced. With Lato injured, Arrasate opted for Morey and Maffeo to start, and Mojica began on the bench. His introduction after the restart changed the script: power, depth and an assist that opened the door to a comeback of huge value at the Sánchez-Pizjuán. His immediate impact was beyond doubt, but the decision to use him as a substitute was explained by the lack of match fitness after the trip.

Now, the third return looks like the second in terms of timing: accelerated return, long trip and tight recovery. Mojica is set to play this early morning a friendly with Colombia against Australia, and upon his return he will have barely one session before visiting the Yellow Submarine. With that scenario, his starting spot is possible, but surrounded by uncertainty and dependent on the condition he returns in. To keep track of Arrasate's men, here is the profile of the Mallorca.