Spanish soccer giant Real Madrid has reached a transfer agreement with River Plate for the latter’s … More
Spanish soccer giant Real Madrid has reached a transfer agreement with River Plate for the latter’s highly-rated teenager Franco Mastantuono according to Mundo Deportivo, which cited anonymous sources.
After landing Brazilian prodigy Endrick from Palmeiras in 2024 for a reported $68.5 million (€60 million), Los Blancos were often linked to heading across the border and securing Mastantuono.
Unlike Madrid’s Brazil national team talents such as Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo and Endrick, Mastantuono would not have to wait until he turned 18 to cross the Atlantic and join a European club because of his access to an Italian passport that many Argentines enjoy.
That has always made him an attractive prospect to a potential suitor on what South Americans call the ‘Old Continent’, as he wouldn’t occupy one of few non-EU spots in the first team squad.
As a trophyless 2024/2025 season in terms of major silverware drew to a close for Madrid, which had to witness newfound domestic dominance from FC Barcelona, talk of signing Mastantuono fizzled out.
After securing a maiden Champions League crown by thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 in a Munich decider, Paris Saint-Germain looked to be leading the race for the midfielder.
Furthermore, English heavyweight Manchester City, which has already raided River once for Claudio Echeverri, was also believed to be in the running and in more of a position to pull off the potential coup.
In the past week, however, Madrid came out of nowhere and ramped up its interest in the teenager, and it has now agreed to pay his $51.4 million (€45 million) release clause in Buenos Aires.
Mundo Deportivo’s report on the matter has been backed by reliable sources such as transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano, and the only obstacles that were getting in the way of an agreement were the payment structure and dates of when related monies will be sent to River.
Now that all this has seemingly been ironed out, and as already explained, Madrid doesn’t have to wait until Mastuono turns 18 to incorporate him into Xabi Alonso’s first team squad or send him to the Castilla where he can start to get a taste for European soccer.
Unlike new signings such as Dean Huijsen and Trent-Alexander Arnold, however, which were made swiftly with one eye on the newly-reimagined FIFA tournament that has huge prize money on offer, Mastuono won’t switch allegiances in order to play the Club World Cup.
He’ll compete in the tournament as a River player, where the Argentines face Urawa, Monterrey and beaten Champions League finalists Inter Milan in the group stage meaning Marcelo Gallardo’s men have a realistic chance of making it to the knockout phase.
Breaking into the Real Madrid First XI won’t be easy for Mastuono
As we’ve seen with Endrick, who has Kylian Mbappe in his way, breaking into the Real Madrid first XI is no easy task. A bit further back, however, there might be a semi-vacant spot on the right wing where a Rodrygo linked to a potential exit ended 2024/2025 out of the picture while Arda Guler took the position for himself.
