Manzano mad about Maxi

Real Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano has expressed his delight at the capture of Maxi Lopez on loan.

Barcelona have agreed to send the striker to the Mediterranean island for the whole of next season, following a frustrating stint at Camp Nou.

The Argentine was not a regular at Barca last year, but club bosses still believe he has a bright future in Catalonia.

Manzano is equally excited by Lopez's talent, and insisted that he could provide the missing piece in the Mallorca jigsaw.

"Lopez knows our league very well and is desperate for success so I am convinced that we have done very well in bringing him to Mallorca," he beamed.

"Mallorca needed a player like Maxi Lopez in this position a long time ago.

"We need to have more strength in our attack and Maxi was the first option we thought about.

"He is very young, only 22 years old, and he is at a stage where he is growing up."