Real Madrid is actively pursuing the signing of a young Argentine player, Franco Mastantuono. The 17-year-old forward currently plays for Argentine club River Plate and has attracted the attention of several top European teams, including French giants Paris Saint-Germain.
According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid has sent representatives to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, to engage in direct talks with River Plate. Their goal is to finalize the transfer as soon as possible, ideally before the start of the Club World Cup.
Martínez has been making waves in the Argentine domestic league, earning him the attention of scouts across Europe. He not only possesses exceptional technical skills but also demonstrates a remarkable ability to read the game. Over the past year, Real Madrid has been leading the race to sign him. It is reported that he turned down offers from Premier League clubs to wait for a formal bid from Real Madrid.
However, things have not gone as smoothly as anticipated. Real Madrid had the opportunity to activate a €45 million release clause to sign him, but ultimately failed to secure the deal. This has given Paris Saint-Germain an opening, and they now appear to be close to finalizing the signing of the young player.
Nevertheless, Real Madrid has not given up. They are well aware of who they want, and Mastantuono himself has expressed strong interest in joining Real Madrid. If negotiations proceed smoothly, this Argentine youngster could very well appear on Real Madrid’s upcoming Club World Cup roster.
It is worth noting that Mastantuono made history as early as February 2024. At just 16 years and 5 months old, he scored his first goal for River Plate’s first team, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the club’s history. Recently, he was also called up to the Argentine national team to prepare for the World Cup qualifiers. This means he could potentially debut for the national team before Messi.
In summary, Mastantuono is a highly promising young talent. Regardless of which club he ultimately chooses, he is destined to become a key figure in the future of football. Real Madrid’s all-out effort in this case once again demonstrates their strong capabilities and determination in identifying and nurturing young talent.
