Western media: Real Madrid is looking for a creative midfielder, and Elche youngster Mendoza comes into view

According to Spanish media grada3, Real Madrid is looking for a creative midfielder, and the 20-year-old Rodrigo Mendoza, who is currently playing for Elche, has entered the field of vision.

Real Madrid rarely finds talent in Spain, but when it does, it's usually the right choice. That may be the case this time, as the club has set its sights on Rodrigo Mendoza, the 20-year-old Elche playmaker who has been a standout performer at the U20 World Cup.

His outstanding performance in the game attracted the attention of Valdebebas's office. Although these tournaments allow many young players to emerge, the club also understands that playing against peers and playing for Real Madrid in the top league are two different things.

However, the club will be keeping a close eye on his performance in the coming months, especially once he returns from the World Cup. In fact, Elche have started the season brilliantly, finishing seventh after eight games, thanks in no small part to Rodrigo Mendoza's key role before departing for international duty.

An important advantage of Rodrigo Mendoza is that the price for him to join Real Madrid is relatively low. Compared with other big-name stars who are rumored to be related to Los Blancos, his release clause is 20 million euros, and this fee may even be further reduced through negotiations.

Real Madrid urgently need to fill this position. In ordinary La Liga games, the strength of the team masks this problem, but in important games, such as last season and this season against Atletico Madrid, the lack of such players who can direct, organize and control the rhythm of the game becomes particularly obvious.

Because it's not just a matter of finding teammates and driving the ball forward, it requires players who have the ability to lead the team, control the tempo of the game and manage everything around them. This is a talent that is difficult to learn, and you either have it or you don't. Now, no one in the Real Madrid team has this ability.

Rodrigo Mendoza has become a name on Real Madrid's shortlist for midfield. It is completely different from the candidates the club had previously considered. It is a very unexpected choice, but for Real Madrid, they rarely make mistakes when they find talent at home.