Franco Mastantuono joined Real Madrid last summer amid much hype and expectation. After all, several top clubs, including European champions PSG, were gunning for the 18-year-old former River Plate prodigy.
The young Argentine made a positive start to life in the Spanish capital as well, but a spell of fitness issues due to pubalgia stopped his momentum, and he has been unable to recover ever since.
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Now being reduced to a marginal role in the side, Mastantuono is expected to follow the Endrick route and go out on loan in the summer.
A return to River Plate not ruled out
And, according to journalist Agustin Martin of AS, Real Madrid are not ruling out the possibility of sending Mastantuono back to River Plate on loan.
While Los Blancos would ideally prefer the youngster staying in Europe to continue his development, they would not block a move back to his boyhood club in the summer if the player himself requests it.
This comes after River Plate manager Eduardo Coudet recently opened the doors for a temporary return for Mastantuono.
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“We wait for him with open arms,” he had said only last week.
So far in his debut season at Real Madrid, Mastantuono has played 30 times in all competitions, scoring three goals and registering one assist.
It is not something entirely new to see a young talent take time to adapt at Real Madrid. Arda Guler went through the same situation in his debut season, as did Endrick.
Real Madrid continue to believe in the teenage Argentine but are open to loaning him out next season so that he can play regularly and develop further. Whether it happens at River Plate or some other club, only time will tell.
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