New Delhi: Franco Mastantuono is making quite a few head turns in the football world, taking a strong stride in Argentina’s Primera Division team, River Plate. The 16-year-old has already drawn comparisons to his nation’s hero, Lionel Messi. While Messi made a name for himself in Spain during his youth career, Mastantuono is also a regular for River Plate’s first team.
The other name that everyone has compared to Mastantuono is FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal. Yamal is just a month older than Argentina’s prodigy, and Mastantuono’s playing styles have been compared with Yamal’s, with his smart thinking, left-footed attacks, and notorious long-distance shots. However, they could be rivals soon. If rumours are to be believed, Mastatuono has gained interest from Real Madrid.
🇦🇷🌟 | 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐨𝐧𝐨 (𝟏𝟔𝐲, 𝐀𝐌) with the 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐆𝐎𝐀𝐋 for @RiverPlate
This impact with just 16 years old is completely crazy.
River Plate has one of the best youth academies in the world 🔴⚪️
— Rising Stars XI (@RisingStarXI) July 28, 2024
The defending champions have allegedly employed Santiago Solari to land the attacking midfielder for €25 million. They have also considered bringing him to their team like Endrick has been brought this year.
Who is Franco Mastantuono, Argentina’s latest prodigy?
CORDOBA, ARGENTINA – 2024/04/21: Franco Mastantuono of River Plate warms up before a quarter final match of Copa de la Liga Profesional 2024 between River Plate and Boca Juniors at Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium. Final score: River Plate 2:3 Boca Juniors. (Photo by Manuel Cortina/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Younger by a month and a day to Lamal, Mastantuono got the spotlight on himself during River Plate’s game against Atletico Sarmiento. They were awarded a free kick in the 87th minute, with both sides in a 0-0 deadlock. Mastantuono stepped up from 25 yards and drove his effort into the top left-hand corner of the goal, ensuring that the side won the game 1-0.
In January this year, Mastantuono became the third-youngest player to make an appearance in an official game for River Plate. For his club, he has made 21 appearances across competition this season with three goals and one assist to his name. River Plate’s Academy has earned a reputation for turning raw talents into fine stars, including two-time Copa America and World Cup winner Julian Alvarez.
His strength lies in his ability to move around the pitch effortlessly, spot spaces in opponents’ defence to exploit, and pass precisely to his teammates in the forward positions. Mastantuono also has the ability to create chances and push his team into the attacking zone when playing in the deep. It is at the right wing, though, where he is at his best. He positions himself so that he can use his left foot to make passes into the central area as well as make reverse passes to players running behind.
He has shown patience and great game awareness with a good sense of timing his ball release well. This has made him one of the most creative players to come from the club’s academy. For someone who plays as associative no.10 or right-winger, Mastantuono regularly cuts inside with his stronger left foot and can glide sound the half-spaces. He operates well behind the opponent’s midfielders and plays deft passes from the edge of the box. However, when the space opens up, he can make a good strike on the goal. He is technically very sound but it does seem that his future is more towards playing in the central than in the wide right.
Madrid’s interest in Argetina’s new talent?
Florentino Pérez (L) Franco Mastantuono (R) (Photo: Getty Images)
Real Madrid have always shown an inclination to sift through well-sought-after young talents worldwide, which is why their generation-to-generation adaptation is smooth. It comes as little surprise that the reigning La Liga champions have shown interest in Mastantuono. With established players like Vinicius Jr. and Eduardo Camavinga, the 16-year-old might be seen as the next talent whose services Madrid are eager to secure.
Of course, Mastantuono won’t be making it into the senior team immediately, with quite a few players at the Santiago Bernabeu club being younger than 25. However, Mastantuono’s release clause in his contract will be £39m, which will apparently see a surge during the final days of the window.
Mastantuono will be eligible to obtain an Italian passport through his grandmother, allowing him to play across Europe. This further implies that Madrid can also sign him before he turns 18. This will trigger a deal similar to Madrid’s latest signing Endrick. Mastantuono will sign a deal with the Los Blancos now but will remain with his current club, River Plate, for a year or so. This would mean that for now, Mastantuono will train and develop himself in Argentina. Further, it secures the Madrid bench without crowding their attack.
Mastantuono may be a talented rising star in his country, but he is still quite young and inexperienced. The jury is still out on his ability to sustain in the big picture. For now, if Madrid does decide to match his release clause, he will be one of the most expensive buys directly from Argentina ever. However, if he does get to sign with the team, he will be facing a lot of competition to get playing minutes, given the stars that are already there in the positions he plays at.
River Plate’s newest talent is on the radar of Real Madrid with the academy the club making a reputation for producing some great talents over the years. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
