Proof: Real Madrid-bound teenage wonderkid is a childhood Barcelona fan | OneFootball

Real Madrid may be making headlines with their pursuit of Franco Mastantuono, but not everything about the 17-year-old wonderkid from Argentina points to the Santiago Bernabeu.

In fact, some of his earliest links suggest that his heart may have once leaned towards Barcelona.

Led by Juni Calafat, a Madrid delegation is currently in Buenos Aires trying to finalise a deal for Mastantuono, who is widely considered one of Argentina’s brightest young talents.

While the operation gains attention, some intriguing details about the youngster’s past have surfaced, much to the delight of Barcelona fans.

Barça ties run deeper than they appear

A resurfaced video shows Mastantuono joyfully juggling a football while wearing none other than a red Barça shirt featuring the Rakuten sponsor, an image that has quickly gone viral among Cules.

This innocent clip, though simple, says a lot. It hints at a possible childhood admiration for the Catalan club, a bond that many young talents across the world have developed over the years thanks to Barça’s style of football and global appeal.

The Barcelona connection certainly does not stop there. Mastantuono’s uncle, Jose Raul Iglesias Mastantuono, better known as ‘Toti’ or ‘Totigol’, played for the Barcelona reserve team during the 1977–78 season.

In just 15 matches, he scored seven goals before going on loan to Recreativo de Huelva.

With such family history and early signs of admiration, it is clear that Mastantuono’s story is not one-sided. While Real Madrid rush to close the deal, Barcelona’s influence on the young star’s life is undeniable.

Even if a move to Madrid materialises, the fact that Mastantuono grew up with Barcelona colours in his heart and family legacy will always make the Blaugrana faithful wonder: What if?