There are lifelong Mallorquinistas and others who fall in love with the club along the way, much like Bastian Schweinsteiger.  

The legendary midfielder made more than 600 appearances at the highest levels for Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Chicago Fire, as well as winning 121 caps for Germany and a World Cup. 

Schweinsteiger has a familiar face on the island and a regular visitor to Estadio Mallorca Son Moix. 

"The truth is that I always have a good feeling when I come here. I was here for the first time in 2008 with Germany. Before the EURO we had training sessions here, so I always have a good feeling.

"When I come to the stadium, obviously I like to watch football, I follow the club, the results and how they play. I really like the way the stadium has turned out.

“The team is performing very well this season, but also last season with the Copa del Rey final. I'm really impressed with how the team is moving in the right direction and I really enjoy watching the Mallorca games.

"The people in charge of the club are doing a very good job. It's not about paying 30 million for a player and the team has been built in a very intelligent way. The success is incredible and I also like the passion of the fans.”

Ahead of the match against FC Barcelona, Schweinsteiger knows manager Hansi Flick well having worked with him in the national team.

"He's a very good person and is very well connected with the players. He especially knows how to get younger players and you can see that now at FC Barcelona, where there are a lot of players from the youth teams.”

A team-mate to Robert Lewandowki in his Bayern Munich days, Schweinsteiger also discussed the threat up front and the type of player he is similar to in our own dressing room.  

"It's very important to have players like that. Here you also have Dani Rodríguez, for example. It's very important to have that kind of player who knows the club and can perform at a very high level.”