Real Madrid and Arsenal line up €20m move for Elche midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza

Real Madrid have tracked Elche midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza, 20, for a long time, and Arsenal have now joined the race. With a €20m release clause, the numbers are clean and the path to a quick deal is open. Everything about his profile - ball security, press resistance, smart positioning - fits a top club that wants control and verticality. Expect talks to move fast once the window opens. If one side activates the clause, negotiations will hinge on salary, role, and potential loan-back. This has all the signs of a straightforward, value pick for an elite midfield rotation.

Multiple reports in Spain and England confirm that Real Madrid are long-term admirers of Rodrigo Mendoza at Elche, with Arsenal registering concrete interest. The player is contracted at Elche and has a €20m release clause, which allows either club to short-circuit lengthy bargaining. Elche are open to structured deals that protect their season, including loan-back options if the clause is triggered. The timeline points to the next transfer window, with both clubs assessing midfield depth and succession planning.

🚨 JUST IN: Real Madrid are long-term admirers of Elche’s midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza (20). Arsenal are also interested & there could be a possible battle for the player. His release clause is €20M. @SamJDean

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

A €20m clause for a 20-year-old central midfielder in Spain is exactly the kind of sweet spot elite clubs target - low fee, high ceiling, instant resale protection. For Real Madrid, Mendoza profiles as the connective tissue piece behind the headline stars. He would not be signed to displace Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga or Jude Bellingham, but to keep Madrid’s tempo high in congested stretches, press cleanly after turnovers, and give Carlo Ancelotti a reliable rotation 6-8 who can play on the half-turn. The cost is modest against La Liga amortization limits, and registration is straightforward for a Spanish player.

For Arsenal, he mirrors the club’s data-first investments at age 20-22 that add depth and upside behind Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. Thomas Partey’s fitness history and the need for a second-phase carrier make Mendoza a sensible, proactive buy. At this price point, Arsenal can preserve main-budget flexibility for a striker or wide forward while adding a midfielder who fits Mikel Arteta’s positional play - short angles, quick resets, vertical punches into the half-spaces. In both squads, he would lift the baseline of ball progression and control, which often decides close games in spring.

Reaction

Fan sentiment on social platforms split quickly. One camp is excited by the fee and age profile - a €20m clause for a 20-year-old in Spain screams value, and several voices urged their club to move immediately. Another group pushed back hard, arguing priorities should be elsewhere. Madrid supporters repeated a familiar refrain: the squad needs defensive depth first, not another midfielder, and some dismissed the link outright. Others were wary of a now-standard cycle of names - the kind that trend without material bids.

Arsenal fans were more pragmatic. Many liked the idea at the price, framing it as a smart rotation piece who could be loaned back if needed. A chunk of Madrid’s base demanded a proper 9 or a right winger before any midfield spending. There was also curiosity and honesty - plenty admitted they had not watched Mendoza closely and asked for scouting notes. The loudest reaction came from those who are simply tired of rumors that feel speculative until a clause is triggered. Overall, excitement tempered by squad-need debates summed up the mood.

Social reactions

FC admirers (we'll not make a offer lol)

Pinttow 🇵🇹 #KCORP (@PinttowGoat)

We are about to destroy another talent 😞

Naru (@NaruRmcf)

Anyone has any idea how is he? Idk him

#HalaMadrid (@EternalRMA)

Prediction

Expect Madrid to try to set the pace. They know the player, the clause is clear, and their model for young Spanish talent is well tested: sign early, integrate through measured minutes, and protect development. Two pathways look logical. One - buy and integrate gradually with first-team training and controlled league minutes. Two - activate the clause, then loan back to Elche for guaranteed starts, revisiting integration in preseason. Loan-back would keep everyone happy and stabilize Elche’s campaign.

Arsenal will not overpay above the clause, but they can match wages and sell a clear plan: Premier League development under Arteta with a role that alternates between 6 and 8 in structured possession. If Madrid delay, Arsenal can strike quickly using clean release-clause mechanics. If both trigger the clause, the player’s decision on project and pathway becomes decisive. Leaning outcome today: Madrid edge it if they move early and offer a loan-back. If Arsenal escalate and guarantee minutes in cup and league rotations, it becomes a 50-50. Either way, movement feels imminent rather than speculative.

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Conclusion

This is the kind of deal top clubs finish. Low negotiation drag, obvious tactical fit, and a development runway that protects the investment. For Madrid, Mendoza would keep the midfield’s standards sky high on heavy weeks and guard against injuries without distorting the hierarchy. For Arsenal, he strengthens the second unit while keeping funds clear for a striker push. The critical variables - salary band, role clarity, and potential loan-back - are solvable in a single meeting once the clause is approached.

My read: both clubs are serious, but Madrid’s history with domestic market talent and the option to loan back give them a slight lead. Arsenal remain a genuine threat if they press the button first. One final note - if either side waits too long, a third mover could arrive because a €20m clause for this profile will not stay quiet. The window will answer quickly. For now, this looks like a smart, near-term move waiting to be finalized.