Real starlet to join Mallorca

Real Madrid starlet Borja Valero will quit the club this summer to sign for Mallorca.

The 22-year-old's contract with Real expires at the end of the season and he has decided not to extend it, opting instead for a fresh start with Mallorca with whom he will ink a five-year deal.

Valero - a Spain Under 21 international who captained his country to Under 19 European Championship success in 2004 - currently plays for Real's B side (Real Madrid Castilla) and has struggled to make the breakthrough to Fabio Capello's (pictured) first team.

Although he has made a couple of senior starts in Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League matches, the midfielder's lack of progress at the Santiago Bernabeu has clearly frustrated him and he has now opted to try and secure first-team action at the Islanders.

He becomes the second talented Real youngster to announce his impending departure from the club with striker Juan Manuel Mata set for a switch to Valencia at the end of the campaign.

However, Real are more confident of holding on to another young midfield prospect, Esteban Granero, despite strong interest from England where the likes of Liverpool and Fulham are monitoring his situation.