Signing about to happen: Real Madrid goes directly for Franco Mastantuono

Published New:5/06/2025 - 05:45h

Updated New:5/06/2025 - 09:21h

Franco Mastantuono has become a market priority for Real Madrid this summer. The River Plate youngster is very close to accepting the 'merengue' offer

Real Madrid has decided to sign Franco Mastantuono, after several months of failed contacts with River Plate of Argentina. The 'merengues' tried, without success, to lower the price of the 17-year-old winger, but will finally agree to pay the termination clause of the new 'jewel' of the 'millionaire' team.

The latest information indicates the arrival of Juni Calafat, head of scouts of Madrid, to Buenos Aires to close a deal for 45 million euros. Paris Saint-Germain is also very interested in the Azul player, but everything indicates that the footballer will accept the Madrid offer.

Since Ángel Di María (2010), no Argentine player has managed to settle in the 'merengue' squad. However, Mastantuono is confident in reversing this streak, although his arrival is a reinforcement in the medium and long term. Franco prefers to play on the right, a position currently occupied by Rodrygo Goes.

Real Madrid regains the lead in the bid for Mastantuono

Similarly, Kylian Mbappé himself also played several matches on the right, when he partnered with Vinicius Jr. as the only attacking references. In any case, Florentino Pérez does not want to let the '30' of River Plate escape, a player wanted, in addition to PSG, by several big clubs in the Premier League.

Manchester City was one of the first interested in the youngster, just after the incorporation of Claudio Echeverry (also a youth player of the 'millionaire' team). However, the slow adaptation of the 'Diablito' generated doubts in the Mancunian team regarding another high purchase in Buenos Aires.

And the 45 million that River asks for Mastantuono is not, by any means, a minor figure, understanding that he is a very young player with just a season and a half in professional football. Since his jump to the first team, Franco has 10 goals and 7 assists in 61 matches, but this 2025 he has established himself in the XI of coach Marcelo Gallardo.

River conditions the arrival of Mastantuono to Europe

In that sense, River insists on keeping the winger in its squad until the end of the year, since the Copa Libertadores, unlike the UEFA Champions League, plays its decisive phase between August and November.

In fact, Argentine media assure that, given Real Madrid's insistence on closing the signing of Franco Mastantuono this week, the Buenos Aires team asks, at least, to wait until August for the player to join the 'merengue' squad.

And River, like Madrid, will play in the Club World Cup. The 'millionaires' debut in the tournament on June 17 against Urawa Reds of Japan. Then, they must face Monterrey of Mexico and Inter Milan.

Franco will turn 18 next August 14, with which he can have a professional record from his debut. With this, the 'Casa Blanca' will close its third reinforcement of the summer, after the arrivals of Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

At the time, FC Barcelona was also attentive to the future of Mastantuono, but finally ruled out entering the bid due to the high value of his clause.