Martín Demichelis’ sudden departure from Real Mallorca for RB Leipzig was reportedly brokered in part by an old Bayern Munich team-mate: Mario Gómez.
The Bayern connection
Gómez, the former Germany striker, now works in a senior sporting role in Red Bull’s football network, which includes RB Leipzig, the New York Red Bulls and Red Bull Bragantino. He and Demichelis played together at Bayern between 2009 and 2010 and know each other well.
A meeting in Palma
According to reports in Mallorca, Gómez met Demichelis at a hotel in Palma’s old town in early June, a meeting described as a key step in Leipzig’s pursuit of the Argentine. Other reports have pointed to the involvement of Jürgen Klopp, Red Bull’s head of global soccer, who has a home on the island.
The deal
Demichelis activated the release clause in his contract and signed a two-year deal with Leipzig. Mallorca are reported to have received around €2.5 million. The club formally ended its relationship with the coach once the payment had been made.
Anger in Mallorca
The departure, coming shortly after Demichelis had committed to the club, was seen by many supporters as a breach of trust, and caused deep frustration within the club as it prepared for a difficult season in the Segunda División.
Demichelis responds
In a message on Instagram, Demichelis said the decision had not been easy and that he had turned down other attractive offers. He explained that Leipzig offered a new professional challenge linked to an important part of his career and life — a reference to his years in German football. He said he understood the criticism, but that coaches also have dreams, and that he felt the time was right. He added that his exit had been handled respectfully, that Mallorca were receiving significant compensation and that the club had time to plan for the future.
What it shows
The episode illustrates how multi-club networks such as Red Bull’s, and personal connections built over long playing careers, increasingly shape decisions in modern football — sometimes at the expense of clubs outside those networks. For Mallorca, it meant starting the search for a coach again in the middle of a crucial summer.
