The 20-million-euro midfielder that Xabi Alonso has requested from Real Madrid

The Real Madrid coach is clear that this player would greatly improve the midfield and wants to get ahead so that it doesn't happen again like with Zubimendi.

Héctor Andreu | 21 Nov 2025 | 14.45
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Real Madrid is going for Rodrigo Mendoza / Besoccer
Real Madrid is going for Rodrigo Mendoza / Besoccer

La Liga
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Real Madrid Celta Vigo
07/12/25 21:00:00
1.36 5.75 6.50

Rodrigo Mendoza has become the great obsession of Xabi Alonso in this decisive stretch of the season. The Basque coach is convinced that the young midfielder from Elche fits perfectly into Real Madrid's structure, both for his style of play and his growth in a context of maximum demand. At 20 years old, Mendoza has burst onto LaLiga with a maturity that is unusual for his age, demonstrating a personality that has surprised the white technical staff.

Xabi particularly values his decision-making on the ball, his ability to organize the team from the base, and his tactical reading, qualities that remind him of the current Arsenal midfielder. It is no coincidence that he labels him as "the new Zubimendi," a player with the potential to anchor the midfield for the next decade. Therefore, Alonso has directly insisted to the management: the opportunity to secure his signing should not be missed.

Rodrigo Mendoza and an escalating interest in Europe

As reported on DefensaCentral, for the Real Madrid coach, Rodrigo Mendoza is not just a future project, but a piece ready to compete from this very moment. His development at Elche has been constant, raising his level parallel to the club's rise to the First Division. His precision in passing, his presence in pressing, and his impact in every phase of the game have caught the attention of several European giants, aware of the strategic value of a midfielder with that combination of calmness and aggressiveness.

In the Premier League, Pep Guardiola has requested detailed reports from Manchester City, and Mikel Arteta considers him an ideal profile for Arsenal. In Italy, clubs like Juventus, Milan, and Inter have enquired about his contractual situation, also alerted by his performance with the U-20 National Team. His release clause is around 20 million, a manageable figure for any top team, and precisely for this reason Xabi Alonso wants to preempt any potential market dispute that would drive up his arrival at Real Madrid.

Elche and LaLiga, the perfect showcase for his breakthrough

Elche's promotion has been crucial in Elche the consolidation of Rodrigo Mendoza, who has taken advantage of this more demanding scenario to show a mix of serenity, bravery, and leadership uncommon for his age. In LaLiga, his name is already part of debates, discussions, and specialist analysis, highlighting his competitive maturity, precision in ball distribution, and ability to influence collective functioning.

That character is precisely what Xabi Alonso values the most. The coach, demanding of order and structure in his team, sees in Mendoza a profile that balances, sustains, and corrects, even in moments of high pressure. For him, he is not just a player for now, but a key piece for the team's medium-term evolution.

Rodrigo Mendoza vuelve loco al Real Madrid

Real Madrid accelerates upon Xabi Alonso's explicit request

There is consensus in Valdebebas: the team needs a commanding and personality-filled midfielder. The recent winless weeks have reinforced this idea and given more weight to the coach's recommendation. Xabi has conveyed his absolute conviction to the club: Rodrigo Mendoza should be a top priority. He sees him as a complementary profile to the young talents recently integrated into the White project.

Real Madrid maintains its strategic line: betting on players with potential, reasonable prices, and room for development. Mendoza fits into that philosophy, and his room for improvement is vast. From the player's surroundings, a future at the Bernabéu is viewed favorably, aware of the appreciation Xabi has for him and that his style fits perfectly in the Spanish league.

The imminent clash at the Martínez Valero adds a special ingredient. Xabi will have the player he deems essential to strengthen the core of the White team face to face. That match could become a decisive test, capable of speeding up negotiations and bringing the arrival of Rodrigo Mendoza, the midfielder that the coach is convinced can make history if the club manages to beat the fierce international competition.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El mediocentro de 20 millones que Xabi Alonso ha pedido al Real Madrid