Real Madrid News
Real Madrid place 20-year-old Spanish playmaker at top of summer wish list
Real Madrid’s long-term planning in midfield has taken another interesting turn, as a report from Defensa Central reveals that the club has placed Elche’s gifted youngster Rodrigo Mendoza among their main priorities for the future.
It is said that Mendoza continues to appear in scouting meetings, and he is widely viewed as a player who mirrors the elegance and intelligence of Barcelona’s Pedri.
The coaching staff admire the fact that Mendoza’s game feels mature beyond his age. At just 20 years old, he already demonstrates the passing rhythm and positional sense needed to operate at the highest level.
Alonso admires Mendoza
It is also understood that Xabi Alonso is an admirer of the Elche midfielder, rating him as someone who could grow into a key figure.
However, the club does not feel pressured to accelerate any move despite the fact that Juventus have also entered the race.
With a long season ahead and several midfielders being monitored simultaneously, Madrid prefer to assess every option carefully.
Heavy interest in Mendoza
Mendoza’s current contract runs until June 2028, and despite this relatively modest valuation, interest around him has been steadily increasing.
Scouts from other European clubs have followed him for months, yet Real Madrid continue to keep a calm and structured approach when evaluating a potential move.
Meanwhile, the fascination with Mendoza stems from his versatility. While he can perform in various midfield roles, his most natural position is as a central playmaker.
Internally, many consider him one of Spain’s next major talents, someone who could eventually take on an important role in Madrid’s medium-term project.
For now, though, the 20-year-old remains focused on Elche’s campaign, determined to grow without distractions.
The time to assess his future will come, but the admiration from the Spanish giants is already firmly established.
Real Madrid News
Mourinho reacts to Vinicius suspension: “Why announce it two hours before an important match?”
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has questioned the RFEF Disciplinary Committee’s decision to announce Vinicius Jr.’s four-match suspension just hours before their UEFA Champions League meeting with AS Roma on Wednesday.
The Brazilian has been hit with a four-match ban for his red card against Villarreal, meaning he will miss the matches against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander, and Valencia.
And, speaking to Movistar+ (h/t MARCA) before the match, the Real Madrid manager was asked whether the punishment could affect the Brazilian psychologically.
Mourinho instead turned his attention to the football authorities and the timing of their announcement.
“I think that is a question for the Committee. Why have they announced the suspension at this particular moment? If you are asking me this question, it is presumably because you think it could affect him,” the Portuguese coach replied.
“You should ask the Committee why they did not announce it this morning, or tomorrow morning. Why do they do it two hours before a match that is important for Real Madrid, which is a Spanish club?” he added, questioning the timing of the decision.
Mourinho explains his tactical approach against Roma
The Real Madrid manager also outlined his plan for facing a Roma side known for their aggressive pressing.
“My intention is to stop them from pressing us so high up the pitch, given the players we have available and as a precaution,” he said.
Continuing, the Portuguese manager added: “They press man-to-man higher up the pitch better than anyone else, and we will see whether we can take advantage of that. If not, they will have to drop their press five or ten metres.”
Why Rudiger over Huijsen
Mourinho also justified his decision to start Antonio Rudiger at centre-back alongside Ibrahima Konate rather than Dean Huijsen.
“They played very well together in the last match, Rudiger and Konate, showing great leadership and the ability to withstand a difficult situation when we had ten men for 30 minutes,” he said.
“I am not saying Dean is not capable of playing a match like this, but this is a wonderful atmosphere for Roma and a difficult one for us. I think a player with Antonio’s experience can be important,” Mourinho added.
Finally, Mourinho was asked about his emotions ahead of returning to face Roma, the club he managed between 2021 and 2024.
The Portuguese coach offered a brief response, saying that he had his feelings about the occasion “blocked”.
