Real Madrid are making a strong move to secure the signing of Franco Mastantuono, the 17-year-old star from River Plate.
Talks between the two clubs are ongoing, with Madrid pushing to get the deal done as quickly as possible.
The young Argentine has already agreed to join the Spanish giants, so the only thing left is for the clubs to settle on the payment structure.
His release clause is set at €45 million, a figure that both Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are willing to pay.
To make sure they don’t miss out, Real Madrid have sent their top scout, Juni Calafat, to Argentina to close the deal, as they do not want to repeat what happened with Arda Guler, who they only acted on seriously once Barcelona were close to signing him.
The case with Mastantuono is similar, except this time, PSG are the main threat. Although Real Madrid had backed off from the deal earlier, fearing it could block the development of Guler, they have jumped back in once it became clear PSG were serious.
Now, they are going all in to make sure one of the most exciting talents in South America doesn’t slip away.
The challenge of fitting in
Mastantuono is a creative midfielder, known for his vision, skill, and confidence well beyond his years.
While he mostly plays on the right for River Plate, he is a classic number 10 who can drift into central areas and create chances. His style of play is very similar to Guler’s, who also prefers operating in that space between midfield and attack.
This, however, creates a challenge. Real Madrid already have several players who can play in the same position, namely, Guler, Brahim Diaz, and even Jude Bellingham, who owned the attacking midfield role under Carlo Ancelotti.
Next season, under new coach Xabi Alonso, the team is expected to use a 4-3-3 system. That means only one spot will be available on the right wing, and it is already being contested by Rodrygo, Brahim, Guler, and now possibly Mastantuono.
Then there is Nico Paz
In the central role, Bellingham remains the clear first choice. Still, Guler, Brahim, Mastantuono, and even Nico Paz (if he returns from Como) could be rotated in.
This crowd of talent is one reason why Madrid had hesitated earlier in the deal, not wanting to stall Guler’s growth. But with the threat of losing Mastantuono to PSG, the club is now determined not to let him go.
In that regard, Mastantuono’s arrival could also affect the future of Nico Paz. While he is currently with Como, Madrid still hold a buyback clause of just €8 million.
He was a player requested by Xabi Alonso himself, but with so many players now set to compete for similar roles, his return may not be as smooth as expected.
With a plethora of talent at their disposal, it is obvious for someone to raise the question of how Real Madrid plan to use Mastantuono. While it is said that he would stay with River Plate until December, what happens after that?
The point being, Real Madrid have done exactly what they did with Guler, signing him out of fear of losing him, and the 2024/25 season ultimately witnessed the Turk fading in prominence.
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