Who is Nobel Mendy, the Senegalese rock of Rayo Vallecano
Still unknown to the general public, Nobel Mendy dropped his card at the Entretenu Municipal de Butarque on Sunday by scoring the last goal of his team in the resounding victory (3-0) of Rayo Vallecano against Atletico Madrid in La Liga (24th day). Solid defensively with exceptional playing intelligence, the 21-year-old Senegalese colossus defender was not at his first attempt this season.
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
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He is not yet a Senegalese international but Nobel Mendy already has everything of a lion or even an old lion, cunning and experienced, capable of managing every situation. Central defender by trade, Mendy quickly developed a versatility that allows him to also evolve as a left-back. In a three-man defense, he excels and plays the role effectively.
With his 1.87m, Nobel Mendy is naturally strong in aerial duels with an impressive ability to relax. But his first quality is his game playback. The 21-year-old player is rarely caught short by the attackers. Thanks to his game vision, he anticipates and intervenes cleanly either to cut a pass line or recover a ball. His game intelligence also allows him to have an immense tactical background in coverage and repositioning.
One on one, Mendy has a «Nobel» prize in the framing of the ball carrier and is always on the lookout with a burst of speed there as well.
Professional debut at Paris FC
Born on September 4, 2004 in Guédiawaye, Senegal, Nobel Mendy grew up in France where he took his first steps in football at the Stade Porte Normande in 2016 before joining Pacy-Ménilles RC the same year and until 2020.
After a short spell at FC Mantois (U17), he joined the training center of Paris FC in 2021 and directly joined the U19 section of the Parisian club. In the capital, Mendy quickly found his bearings and signed his first professional contract in April 2023 at 18 years old. But it is especially in the reserve team that he proved himself and scraped some 67 minutes over 3 games with the first team before being transferred to Real Bétis in Spain in September 2023.
Revelation to the Rayo Vallecano
In Andalusia, nothing was offered to Nobel Mendy who first played as a B team for Betis Sevilla. Discreet, the Senegalese defender let his talent speak for him with the reserve team with whom he played 29 games and delivered 2 assists. His performances opened the door for him to the A team where he played 6 games before being loaned last summer to Rayo Vallecano.
It is in the suburbs of Madrid that Nobel Mendy will bloom in the eyes of the whole world. For his first full season as a professional, the Senegalese is one of the best players in Rayo where he has established himself as one of the most indispensable members of Inigo Pérez’s group.
Before the derby on Sunday night against Atletico Madrid, Nobel Mendy had already scored his first professional goal on 1st December in the draw (1-1) against Valencia by opening the score. Carried by the adrenaline of the derby, he repeated on Sunday against the Colchoneros in this success so important in the race to stay afloat since this victory allowed Rayo to leave the relegation zone and position themselves now in 17th position in the La Liga ranking.
With 2 goals in 15 matches in all competitions, Rayo Vallecano will probably lift the purchase option of Nobel Mendy at the end of the season if the club succeeds more in its maintenance mission. Having grown up in France, Mendy has never played with the different categories of young people from the French team nor those from Senegal.
With four months to go before the World Cup, the American dream may seem very big for him. But if he continues to perform, no doubt he can find a place in the den after the World Cup. But be careful with Guinea-Bissau, his mother’s country and with which he is also eligible.