Victor Felipe Mendez – Union Espanola’s midfield gem

Victor Felipe Mendez Obando has been out of his home since the age of 12 as the youngster from Valdivia, Chile joined the Huachipato youth academy moving into the team dorm room. He would eventually join the Union Espanola youth academy, moving to Santiago at U17 level before he moved into his own apartment at the age of 19 as the youngster has been playing with the first-team for over three years now. The Chilean Club like many other clubs in the country is producing a fine array of talent with Carlos Palacios making a move to Internacional in Brazil while Jonathan Villagra, Bastian Yanez and Vicente Conelli are other youngsters with the first-team. Mendez is one of the stars of the side as at 21-years-old, he even dons the captain’s armband in some games.

Mendez has played with the Chilean U20 side at the 2019 South American Championships while he will prove to be an integral option for the National Team as the current crop of talent bursting through the Chilean Primera Division proves that there is life after the golden generation. Mendez was compared to Charles Aranguiz in his youth due to similarities in their position, physical stature and progressive passing nature as Mendez continues to watch videos of the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder as well as Miralem Pjanic, Marco Veratti and Matteo Kovacic to apply to his game as he is quickly becoming one of the better midfielders in Chilean football. The 21-year-old consistently looks to pass the ball forward when he receives possession while constantly looking to regain possession with tigerish intent as he can play as a defensive-midfield controller as well as a creative box-to-box midfielder.

In a Copa Libertadores Qualifying match away to Independiente Del Valle, with the Ecuadorian side leading 4-0, Mendez came off the bench in the second-half to send a strike past the keeper from range. Union Espanola would then win a turnover for the ball to be played to Mendez in the left half-space to cut-back for Patricio Rubio to apply the finish. This sequence is a facet of Mendez’ game as he can instigate play from deep but can also receive possession in between the lines, especially in the half-spaces where he can participate in wide build-up interchanges while being able to loft accurate crosses into the box. This is an essential skill to have in modern day football as most teams utilize wide build-up combinations as the 21-year-old midfielder’s ability to create chances from the half-space would be applicable to a higher level of football. Mendez would continue to receive possession in between the lines as he had one sequence where he swivelled his hips to turn away from a challenge and played a pass to the nine-space.

The youngster has a fantastic passing range, makes brilliant runs into the half-space while being clever at receiving possession in between the lines. In the Chilean Primera Division, away to Huachipato, he regained possession counter-pressing on the right flank to turn and play an accurate pass for a teammate in the ten space. He will usually start games in a defensive midfield role before moving into a box-to-box role during games as he fills both of the roles brilliant as his ability to receive possession under pressure, progressive passing and defensive diligence are the traits required for both positions. He would receive possession as the deepest-lying midfielder to roll the ball onto his right foot and flick a pass for a teammate in between the lines as the speed with which he releases the ball after he receives it is crucial to him being a progressive passer. He loves to receive possession on his stronger right foot, holding the ball with his toes or the outside of his boot to seamlessly flick a pass to a teammate in between the lines.

The 21-year-old would work another pass in between the lines when he drove the ball forward to thread a pass to the nine-space for the striker to attempt a lay-off. When he is in possession, Mendez constantly looks to play the ball forward as he would carry the ball forward in midfield to find a teammate in between the lines by threading a pass in between two opposition players. Another aspect of his game that makes him such an intriguing midfielder in between the lines is his one-touch passing as the young Chilean received possession at the base of midfield to loft a pass into the wide areas for his teammates to work a connection. His one-touch passing would lead to his side creating an opportunity as he received possession in the left half-space to work a one-two with Yanez before driving the ball into the higher central areas of the pitch and spreading the ball to the opposite flank for a teammate to have a shot on goal.

Mendez would drop into the six-space to receive possession on the half-turn to spin and thread a pass to the nine-space. He would not only show his ability in possession but also his ability in regaining possession, making a tackle in midfield to drive the ball forward and spread a pass to the wide areas as this led to his side having a high-quality opportunity on goal. The 21-year-old would have another press-resistant moment as he received possession in the left half-space to take the ball on the half-turn with a marker on his back before swivelling back to evade his marker to thread a lovely pass for a teammate in between the central lines to drive the ball forward and spread a pass to the weak side. In a pivotal Chilean Primera Division clash against Universidad de Catolica, he would regain possession in midfield to drive the ball forward and thread a pass for Yanez in the channels to have a cross blocked.

The young Chilean is fantastic in the counter-press despite his short stature as he is quick in short spaces and routinely puts his body on the line in 50/50 challenges. He will win second balls while covering smalls spaces quickly to regain possession in midfield as he not only likes to engage in the more aesthetic side of midfield interchanges but in the dirtier side as well. He would win an interception to drive the ball forward and have a pass with the outside of his boot ricochet to Yanez out wide. The 21-year-old then received possession in midfield to turn away from a challenge and play an uncharacteristic back-pass to his centre-back who worked a pass in between the lines to lay-off for Mendez to receive possession and drive the ball forward and flick a pass to a teammate with the outside of his right boot. Mendez received possession in the left half-space to thread a pass through to Yanez who played the ball into the box for a lay-off to Mendez at the top of the box for the midfielder to turn and play a pass into the centre for a teammate to cut past a marker and have a shot blocked.

Mendez is pivotal in the half-space because his creative and connective abilities as Yanez is a winger who prefers to receive possession in the half-space or behind his opposition fullback as dribbling is not one of his stronger skillsets. Mendez constantly works passes to Yanez in behind his marker or moves into the half-space to receive possession when Yanez is in 1v1 situations against the opposition fullback. Yanez is strong at crossing, so Mendez will constantly thread passes to him where he can deliver the ball as soon as possible to create opportunities. Mendez would receive possession from the opposite half-space to lob a perfectly weighted cross into the box which was just behind the opposition striker who was unable to control the ball and get a shot away. The 21-year-old received possession in the left half-space to turn and thread a pass into the next line.

In between the lines, Mendez’ ability to receive possession on the half-turn as well as his measured first-touch, allows him to not only be an effective progressive passer but an effective receiver in between the lines. In a sequence, Mendez side-stepped into a pocket of space to receive possession as his marker had shifted a yard in front of him to counter-press the player in possession for Mendez to receive the ball and elegantly spin inside to allow the ball to roll across his body to beat his marker before releasing Yanez into the channels. An opposition player would demonstrate a spin of his own to gain a yard on Mendez as the 21-year-old chased him down to make a perfectly timed sliding challenge to regain possession in front of his own defence.

Away to Curico Unido in the Chilean Primera Division, Mendez continued to be clever in allowing the ball to roll across his body to receive possession as he used the manoeuvre to work a pass to a teammate while under pressure in the six-space. The 21-year-old utilized the manoeuvre again to play the ball to the winger who had moved into the ten space. Mendez began the game as a defensive midfielder as he showed great anticipation to make interceptions while he also put his body on the line to win 50/50 challenges. He continued to put in strong challenges at the base of midfield as he had a moment where he could have threaded a pass to play a teammate in behind but played a sideways pass before threading another pass through the lines. The young midfielder would then be involved in the opening goal, playing a lovely cross to Palacios who headed the opportunity off the crossbar as Navarrete was on hand to tap in the rebound.

The 21-year-old would then receive possession and drive the ball forward to glide past an opposition defender and have a shot tipped wide from range. He also showed his ability to draw fouls in congested areas, controlling a high ball with an impeccable first touch with two opposition players around him before playing the ball to a teammate to receive a pass in between the lines to work a one-touch pass before being fouled. Mendez who began the game in the six-space would then operate in the ten space by the end of the half, driving the ball forward to thread a pass for the right winger to have a number of crosses deflected. In one half of football, he would create 2 chances with 1 cross on target while also having 2 interceptions and 10 ball recoveries proving his well-rounded skillset.

At home to Deportivo Antofagasta, Mendez dropped deep to receive the ball and won possession with a brilliant challenge in front of his defence to spin out of a challenge and back-heel a pass to a teammate. He then looked to instigate an attacking move with an outside of the boot pass in between the lines. Despite his size, he also did well to win aerial duels in front of his defence while in the opposition half, he worked a connection with Palacios to set up a shot at goal. He was playing as a defensive midfield-box-to-box midfielder hybrid, dropping in between the centre-backs in build-up play while receiving possession in between the lines to orchestrate attacking moves. Mendez would win a 50/50 challenge in midfield to drive the ball forward switch a pass to Ignacio Nunez on the opposite flank for his fellow midfielder to thread a pass in behind for Palacios to miss two opportunities. He then regained possession with another brilliant tackle to start a counter-attacking move as he was phenomenal in physical battles in midfield as he is such a clean tackler.

Mendez would move into the eight space to connect play in the half-spaces and central areas while he continued to impress with his long range passing as the 21-year-old lobbed a pass in behind that hit Palacios in stride. He has a knack for finding Palacios in the nine-space with his progressive passing as he would receive possession in the ten space to spread the ball to the wide areas for a cross into the box. He would finish the game with an 82% pass succession rate, completing 81% of his passes in the final third with 3 chances created and 1/3 dribbles.

Away to Everton, Mendez would begin the game by receiving possession in the six-space to scan twice and drive the ball past two players to work a pass forward. He also threaded another pass in between the lines from the six-space as he would receive possession in that area again to switch a pass to the right flank before working a one-two to drive into space. The 21-year-old did well with his distribution from the deeper-lying midfield area as well as regaining possession as in one instance he won an interception to drive the ball forward and have a pass intercepted. He would receive possession again to skip past two players and attempt to thread a pass in between the lines before intercepting an opposition goal-kick to thread a pass into the nine-space. Mendez is fantastic at receiving possession in tight spaces, shielding the ball from markers and working forward passes as he utilized this manoeuvre to work a pass into the next line before receiving possession again and switching a pass to the right-back to beat pressure.

Mendez also looked phenomenal at working connections in the six-space as well as winning possession in the six-space as he is a well-rounded midfielder who is highly capable on both sides of the ball. He continued to move in between the lines to receive possession and win turnovers as his first touch was brilliant as well. He had a wonderful first-touch to beat a man and play a back-pass to have another exceptional first touch in between the lines to skip past a man in the ten space and spread a pass to Yanez on the left. Mendez would receive possession in the left half-space to lob a cross to the back-post for the keeper to make a mistake. Mendez began to take up more positions on the left as he worked a pass from that area for Benjamin Galdames to beat his man and send a shot over from outside the box. Mendez continued to show his potential as a ball-carrier, weaving past three players before losing possession before progressing play with another brilliant line-breaking pass.

Mendez will thrive as a box-to-box midfielder due to his well-rounded skill-set as he also had moment where he dropped into space to receive possession and work clever little combinations in between the lines. His first-touch can be awe-inspiring as he received possession in the six-space to take a touch and play the ball into the next line. He then had an amazing first-touch to take down a high-ball to turn and thread a pass into the nine-space. His distribution combines with his first touch magnificently. He would then have two shots blocked, Mendez got in behind to have a shot blocked before working a one-two with a teammate to have another shot blocked from the top of the box. He would finish the game with an 87% pass succession rate and 2 chances created.

Mendez is one of the better young midfielders to watch in South America as he maintains a high standard of performance. At home to Huachipato, he was constantly scanning before he received possession as he received the ball in the six-space to turn out of pressure and work a pass forward. His side opened the scoring as Mendez was involved as usual as he laid off a pass to receive possession in between the lines before cutting past a defender to thread a pass for Yanez making a run into the channels to square a cross for Alejandro Chumacero to apply the finish. He would be involved in the second goal seven minutes later, regaining possession from a second ball in midfield to slide a through ball to Yanez who drove into the opposition box to apply the finish. He then received possession on the left flank to take his first touch with the outside of his right boot to work a pass into the nine-space before receiving a lay-off to cut past a man and win a foul.

The youngster was the best player on the pitch as he started the game as a box-to-box midfielder, receiving possession in between the lines to spread the ball to the wide areas. Mendez would not misplace a pass in the first half despite looking to be penetrative with his distribution. Mendez can expertly thread passes through the tightest of spaces as he worked a connection on the left flank to find Yanez in the box as the winger hit the crossbar with a shot. He then received possession in between the lines as he managed to work a pass for Yanez to have a cross blocked before receiving possession from Villagra in between the lines to work an outside of the boot pass to a teammate in the nine-space. Him and Yanez would continue to combine on the left with Mendez threading a pass for Yanez who cut-back for teammate who attempted a lay-off for Mendez who controlled the ball to turn and smash a shot over the bar.

Mendez is a phenomenal progressive passer as he received possession to switch a pass to Joe Abrigo on the left for Mendez to receive possession again in the half-space to play a one-two with a teammate in the nine-space before finding Galdames with a fantastic reverse pass which nearly put the fullback through on goal. Mendez also picks up possession in fantastic positions in between the lines while constantly looking to find avenues to the nine-space as he will always look to move the ball forward no matter where he is on the pitch. He would work a pass to the right half-space before receiving possession on the right to flick a pass into the box with the outside of his boot. He then won an interception to turn away from two opposition players to thread a pass to Abrigo. Mendez would finish an astonishing performance with a 96% pass succession rate with only 3 misplaced passes, completing 91% of his passes in the final third with 2 chances created and 1 assist as well as 11 ball recoveries.

Away to Palestino, Mendez would do well to regain possession in the opposition box during the pressing phase to drive a strike wide when he should have scored. He then lobbed a cross from the half-space onto the forehead of a teammate who could not redirect the ball at goal as Yanez smashed over the rebound. He would then thread a pass into the wide areas as he also received possession on the left flank to play a back-pass before receiving possession again and working a pass into the centre. He played in both half-spaces as he is influential at working shooting and crossing opportunites in the final third as he received possession in between the lines to turn and work a pass for a runner in behind to have a shot blocked. This was not one of Mendez’ better performances as in the second-half, he had a few heavy touches but continued to cover small spaces to regain possession as a scrappy player in midfield. He finished the game with an 84% pass succession rate and 7 ball recoveries.

Despite playing as both a defensive midfielder and a box-to-box midfielder, it is obvious that Mendez’ future will be in the latter position. His well-rounded skillset with and without possession allows him to be effective in the engine room while he also has the ability to drop into the six-space situationally to progress play from the deeper areas. The 21-year-old has a unique ability to pass accurately with the outside of his boot while his vision and range of passing would allow him to set the tempo for his team as a creative 8. His ability to receive the ball in between the lines with an impeccable first-touch would make him an essential attacking conduit for a possession-based side while his penetrative passing will also help his side create chances. He can move into the half-spaces to connect play, work beautifully lobbed crosses to create opportunities while creating higher quality crossing and shooting opportunities for his winger. His ability in regaining possession in the pressing phase or the counter-pressing phase is fantastic with his willingness to engage in physical tussles while covering short spaces with tigerish intent to win interceptions and tackles. He would also thrive in a counter-attacking side with his ability to win possession as well as his potential as a creative outlet. He will need to improve his shooting as he can improve with his shot locations as well as the placing of his shots when he gets into good shooting situations.

Mendez has stated that he would prefer to take an Aranguiz-like route to European football moving to Brazil before moving to Europe as he would like to properly prepare for Europe. He has a contract until 2024 with an enticing $2 million release clause which will interest MLS clubs as well as European clubs. The 21-year-old could play for any European team outside the English Premier League as he would thrive at Stuttgart as an alternative for Gonzalo Castro as well as Wataru Endo and Orel Mangala as the German side need another midfielder with Endo at the Olympics and Mangala dealing with an injury. Brazilian football with its constantly changing coaches would not be the perfect place for him to develop as he is on the cusp of a Chilean National Team callup. English Championship teams like Fulham could also be an option at that price with Mendez gaining minutes in continental football since a Copa Sudamericana match against Mushuc Runa in 2019. He will be turning 22 in late September as he should have an intriguing future ahead of him.