Manchester City challenge Arsenal in transfer pursuit of La Liga midfielder – Real Madrid interested | OneFootball

Officials at Manchester City face an intense transfer battle to lure one of the next rising midfielders from Spanish football to the Etihad Stadium, it is being reported.

City’s focus on technically gifted young midfielders has accelerated in recent windows, and following links to emerging talents in La Liga, attention has now turned firmly towards Elche’s highly-rated Rodrigo Mendoza.

Mendoza’s rise has been carefully monitored in Spanish football circles for several years, joining Elche in 2019 and steadily climbing through the club’s structure where relegation opened the door for significant minutes in the second tier.

Operating between attacking midfield and deeper central roles, Mendoza made more than 40 league appearances across two seasons, with promotion in 2024/25 bringing a long-awaited La Liga debut for the youngster.

His blend of ball progression, intelligence between the lines, and calmness under pressure has drawn comparisons with Barcelona’s Pedri, and his performances at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup only accelerated outside interest.

This season, Mendoza has been a standout performer across the opening 13 games, contributing heavily to midfield balance. Although he was unused in a 2–2 draw with Real Madrid, his broader role has been significant, and his profile now aligns with elite clubs’ long-term strategies.

According to the information of MailSport’s Simon Jones, Manchester City have now joined their Premier League title rivals Arsenal in checking on Elche’s highly-rated midfielder.

The 20-year-old is described as being a ‘creative player’ with similarities to Barcelona’s globally-acclaimed central star Pedri, while the Spain Under-21 international is unsurprisingly also on Real Madrid’s transfer radar.

From the side of Manchester City, the report states that the Etihad Stadium’s Spanish-based scouts have been ‘aware’ of Mendoza for ‘some time’ after he first established himself in Elche’s first-team squad two seasons ago.

With City continuing to plan ahead in midfield, interest in Mendoza aligns with recent patterns of tracking emerging La Liga talent and a similar scouting trend in monitoring several Portuguese and South American prospects.

What happens next could hinge on multiple factors including Arsenal’s long-standing admiration, Real Madrid’s historic pull on young Spanish talents, and Elche’s growing leverage after promotion and minutes handed to Mendoza.

Manchester City, meanwhile, may choose to accelerate talks if outgoing midfield scenarios develop later in the season particularly involving Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic, with several futures across the first-team group still subject to review.