Daniel Garcia yesterday underlined the reasons why Real Mallorca are on the brink of the greatest day in their 83-year history - and why Sheffield Wednesday hope to clinch his signature in a few weeks' time.
Better known as "Dani", the Spanish international striker has quickly become hot property during his side's glorious run to tomorrow's last Cup Winners' Cup final, the tournament merging into the UEFA Cup next season after 38 years.
Wednesday moved in on Dani at a time when the forward was just beginning to make a name for himself, agreeing a club record £5 million deal with Mallorca which is still on the table.
But in scoring one of the goals which helped dump holders Chelsea out of the tournament last month, Dani has suddenly thrown himself into a wider European shop window.
It would come as no surprise if Wednesday manager Danny Wilson, having been beaten to the punch by Rangers earlier this season for the signature of Michael Mols, loses out again to a bigger soccer powerhouse this summer.
Dani is just one of the names set to depart in the break-up of the Balearic island side despite the club having enjoyed their most successful season since they were formed in 1916.
Currently second in the Primera Liga, sandwiched between the might of third-placed Real Madrid and runaway leaders Barcelona, Mallorca now take on Serie A giants Lazio and their multi-million pound line-up at Villa Park.
The Italians, who spent £60 million last summer in a bid for glory, start as strong favourites for the battle in Birmingham in which both sides are first-time finalists.
While there might be a yawning chasm in terms of international household talent and the money spent, Dani admits his side should not be overlooked.
"We are aware of the gulf that separates our line-up from that of Lazio with players like (Marcelo) Salas, (Christian) Vieri and (Sinisa) Mihajlovic. But we make up for that with concentration, hard work and results," said Dani.
If proof were needed, their run to the final makes positive reading as they have won three and drawn five of their ties, conceding just four goals on the way.
It is an almost identical record to Lazio, the only difference being that the team who headed Serie A for three months up until Saturday have let in six.
The Rome side need a boost going into their final league game on Sunday if they are to pip AC Milan to the Scudetto, with victory meaning everything.
Manager Sven Goran Eriksson, who recruited the star-studded array of talent, said: "This is not a secondary objective for us.
"Inside us we must find the grit and determination, the courage and the energy to go to Birmingham and win the Cup Winners' Cup."
President Sergio Cragnotti, who bankrolled Eriksson's spending spree, added: "It's a prestigious international goal. We have the obligation to beat Mallorca to confirm all the good things achieved until now."
Chilean international Salas will be back up front alongside Vieri after being relegated to the substitutes' bench, while defender Giuseppe Favalli and Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved will also start.
