The Indispensable Duo: Raíllo and Valjent’s Impact on Mallorca

It is difficult to envision a Mallorca defense without Antonio Raíllo and Martin Valjent; indeed, it is almost a challenge to imagine it literally. Antonio Raíllo, the current captain of Jagoba Arrasate’s squad, was the first to join the club, arriving in June 2016 from Espanyol. Martin Valjent followed in August 2018, and together, they have formed a central defense that has remained largely unchanged since then.

As of the match on October 4, during the eighth round of the league at San Mamés, this defensive pair celebrated their 550 appearances as Mallorca players—300 for Raíllo and 250 for Valjent. This statistic is already impressive, but what stands out even more is the number of matches in which they have started. Out of the 305 matches Raíllo has played in the Mallorca jersey, he has started in 301 of them, with only four appearances coming from the bench. Furthermore, he has completed 277 matches. Valjent’s record is strikingly similar, having started in 251 of the 255 matches he has played, completing 232.

The fact that both players have only been substitutes four times each is a remarkable indicator of their vital importance since arriving on the island, where they continue to add chapters (and starting appearances) to their long-standing history. This statistic becomes even more significant considering their sustained performance across various tiers of Spanish football, having represented Mallorca in the second division and even in the former second B, with Raíllo also making contributions there.

The arrival of Kumbulla at Mallorca this summer initially suggested that these impressive records might be at risk. However, the temporary implementation of a five-man backline by Arrasate allowed for an additional defender, and Kumbulla’s subsequent hamstring injury, which has sidelined him for over two months, has ensured that Raíllo and Valjent continue to accumulate matches, minutes, and starts. In fact, both players have participated in every minute of the current league season.

Kumbulla is now back and is expected to be included in the squad for the upcoming match against Osasuna this weekend. It remains to be seen whether this will lead to either of the two key central defenders of Mallorca taking a much-needed rest—something that has seemed inconceivable for years.