Premier League Giants Track Spanish Prodigy
Manchester City have formally entered the race to monitor Elche's highly-rated young midfielder, Rodrigo Mendoza, a pursuit already underway by their Premier League rivals Arsenal. The 20-year-old creative playmaker is generating significant excitement in scouting circles for his advanced football intelligence and style of play.
The 'Next Pedri' Catching the Eye
Mendoza's game is drawing comparisons to Barcelona superstar Pedri, particularly in his ability to read the game expertly and find dangerous pockets of space on the pitch. Despite these promising attributes, scouts acknowledge he is still a work in progress with immense potential to develop further.
His talent has not gone unnoticed in his homeland, with Real Madrid also keeping the Spain U21 international on their radar, a clear indication of the high regard in which he is held. Manchester City's scouts based in Spain have been aware of Mendoza's progress for some time, having watched him establish himself in Elche's first team two seasons ago.
International Pedigree and Domestic Progress
While most of his experience has been in the Segunda Division, Mendoza has made ten appearances in La Liga this season, scoring two goals. His development was further showcased on the global stage, where he played every single minute for Spain at the recent FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile.
Spain's campaign in the tournament ultimately concluded last month when they were eliminated in the quarter-finals, suffering a narrow 3-2 defeat to Colombia. This consistent involvement at a high-level international youth tournament has only served to heighten his profile.
Although both Manchester City and Arsenal possess well-stocked squads of creative midfielders, their recruitment strategy involves continuously monitoring emerging talents worldwide who could potentially improve their squads in the future. As such, both clubs are expected to continue tracking Mendoza's progress and any developments regarding his situation at Elche.
