
Key strength: Link-up play
Target man
In the sun-baked intensity of La Liga's relegation battle, one man carries RCD Mallorca's survival hopes almost single-handedly. Perched precariously in 15th place after a rollercoaster run of WLLDW form, the islanders have found their salvation in Vedat Muriqi — a 32-year-old Kosovar target man who has transformed desperation into deliverance. With an astonishing 19 goals from just 24 appearances this season, Muriqi isn't merely outperforming his 57 rating; he's rewriting the narrative of what a relegation-threatened striker can achieve. His €15.5 million valuation speaks to the profit Mallorca stand to make on a player who arrived with pedigree from Lazio and Fenerbahçe, but his true worth is measured in the 1,980 minutes of relentless hold-up play and clinical finishing that have kept his side's heads above water. As a classic target man, Muriqi thrives on turning hopeful punts into dangerous opportunities, linking intelligently with creative foil Pablo Torre while his teammates find their positions. In a squad where few players crack even modest rating barriers, Muriqi's 19-goal haul isn't just impressive — it's existential. When the pressure mounts and half-chances become priceless points, Mallorca know exactly who to look toward.