It was a birthday to remember for Franco Mastantuono. The young Argentine playmaker, who turned 19 on August 14, 2026, made his official debut for Fiorentina in a resounding 4-1 victory over Benevento in the first round of the Coppa Italia, played at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence.
The former River Plate starlet, who is on a season-long loan from Real Madrid, entered the match in the 57th minute, replacing Albert Gudmundsson—the Icelandic forward who had opened the scoring just two minutes into the game. With the result already comfortable, Mastantuono had the freedom to express himself and immediately looked to make an impact.
A Debut Full of Promise
Wearing the number 30 jersey, Mastantuono showcased his trademark left foot with a moment of individual brilliance. Picking up the ball on the right flank, he cut inside and unleashed a powerful shot from distance that sailed just inches over the crossbar. The effort, coming in the 83rd minute, was the closest either side came to altering the scoreline in the second half.
His energy and dribbling also drew fouls, earning a yellow card for an opponent in stoppage time. He also took a heavy knock from defender Luca Caldirola in an aerial challenge but shook it off to finish the match, showing the resilience that has marked his rapid rise.
Fiorentina's Goleada and Road Ahead
The Viola's goals came from Gudmundsson (2'), Moise Kean (35'), Luca Ranieri (48'), and Cher Ndour (50'), with Davide Lamesta scoring a consolation for Benevento in the 54th minute. The win sends Fiorentina into the round of 16, where they will face the winner of the tie between Pisa and Empoli.
Under manager Fabio Grosso, Fiorentina are building an exciting squad. They also recently signed Argentine striker Mateo Pellegrino from Parma for a reported €20 million, though he is yet to make his debut.
From River to Real Madrid to Florence
Mastantuono's journey to Italian football has been meteoric. At River Plate, he made 64 appearances and scored 10 goals, quickly becoming one of South America's most coveted young talents. His move to Real Madrid saw him add 35 matches and 3 goals to his resume, accumulating 1,484 minutes across 17 starts.
Now in Florence, he is eager to cement his place in the starting XI as the Serie A season kicks off. Fiorentina's first league test will be a tough away fixture against AS Roma on August 24.
Speaking after his presentation, Mastantuono explained his decision to join the club: “It's a team with a lot of history, and I was really excited to play for such a big club. I spoke with the manager, and he welcomed me in the best way.”
Sources: Marca · Infobae · ESPN · El Gráfico · TyC Sports