28/07/2026 22:33 - Deportes
July 28, 2026
The talented Argentine attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono continues his adaptation process at Real Madrid (one of the most successful football clubs in Spain and the world) and is gathering valuable minutes ahead of the new season. Under the orders of the newly appointed manager José Mourinho, the former River Plate player started in the second preseason friendly and left a highly positive impression.
In the match held at the Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium, the Spanish squad thrashed Leganés 4-1. Mastantuono, who played the full 90 minutes, scored the third goal of the match in the 58th minute, taking advantage of a rebound left by the goalkeeper after a shot from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Despite his good performances, Real Madrid understands that the youngster, who will turn 19 in August, needs playing time and continuity that he will hardly get in a squad full of superstars. Therefore, the stance of the club presided over by Florentino Pérez is to loan him out for a season without a purchase option.
Several European clubs have shown interest in signing him, including Fulham (from the English Premier League), Benfica (from Portugal), and Fiorentina (from Italy). Precisely, next Saturday Real Madrid will face Fiorentina again in a friendly match in Austria, which could serve as a great showcase for the player.
As reported by the media outlet The Athletic, Mastantuono would include River Plate (one of the most popular and successful football clubs in Argentina, based in the Núñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires) among his loan options. The Argentine club, currently going through a crisis of creativity and talent in its midfield, views the possibility of repatriating its former player very favorably.
River Plate sources assure they learned through the press about the player's supposed willingness, as there has been no official communication from his camp. However, the fans' hope is ignited. Mastantuono left River a year ago, after scoring 10 goals and providing 7 assists in 64 matches. His transfer to the Spanish club cost 45 million euros (63 million including other concepts).
Real Madrid's loan strategy has successful precedents. Brazilian striker Endrick was loaned to Lyon, where he scored 8 goals and provided 8 assists in 21 matches, returning to the Spanish team with greater maturity. The goal with Mastantuono is for him to acquire that same level of confidence.
Whether in Europe or at the Monumental stadium (River Plate's home ground), Franco Mastantuono's future looks bright. His ability to bounce back from criticism and his innate talent promise a season full of magic and growth, giving fans plenty of reasons to maintain hope and excitement.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
