David Affengruber's strong performance at Elche CF is yielding results. The Austrian central defender, who is nearing the completion of his second season with the 'franjiverde' team, has been a fundamental part of the club's promotion and has received his first call-up to the national team. These outstanding performances have garnered interest from major European clubs.

Eder Sarabia, the coach of Elche CF, considers Affengruber the leader of his defense. The player is the third with the most minutes played this season, with 26 starts reaffirming the coach's confidence in him. He even debuted as captain in the match between Elche and Barça last January.

Atlético de Madrid first noticed him on the second matchday of the league, when Elche visited the Metropolitano. In that encounter, the central defender's performance was crucial for Sarabia's team to secure a point, limiting the 'rojiblanco' attack to a single goal. Since then, the Madrid club has been closely monitoring the player for a potential transfer.

However, Atlético de Madrid is not the only club interested. In Elche's last match against Valencia, an AC Milan scout was present at Martínez Valero to observe Affengruber. The player responded with a solid defensive performance, making no errors in ball distribution or interceptions, contributing to the team earning three vital points for remaining in Primera División.

Before deciding his future, Affengruber will face the biggest challenge of his career. His high level earned him a call-up to the Austrian national team, debuting in a friendly against Ghana on March 27. Now, his participation in this summer's World Cup could depend on the next seven matches, starting with the clash against Atlético de Madrid, where he will need to prove his worth to both his national coach and the interested clubs.