Real Madrid new arrival will have no problem playing in the Champions League amidst registration controversy | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s young sensation Franco Mastantuono will not face any problems representing the club in the Champions League this season.

According to journalist Jose Felix Diaz, the Argentine midfielder will not face any problems in being a part of the squad, despite recent debates around his registration status.

In recent weeks, there has been confusion regarding the 18-year-old’s position within the team. Although Mastantuono has been signed for the first team, the club registered him with their reserve side for administrative purposes.

This raised concerns from Miguel Galan, president of CENAFE, who argued that Real Madrid might risk fielding an improper line-up if Mastantuono featured in European matches.

His comments created uncertainty about whether the youngster could play in the 2025/26 Champions League campaign.

However, Diaz has made it clear that the situation will not block Mastantuono’s involvement. Real Madrid will simply have to ensure his name is included on the official first-team list submitted to UEFA.

UEFA rules make first-team registration essential

Franco Mastantuono will play for Real Madrid in the UCL. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

UEFA’s rules for the Champions League are straightforward. Each club must submit two lists of players: List A and List B. List A is the main squad, which can include a maximum of 25 players, and must be finalised by 2 September.

Once submitted, it cannot be altered until the group stage is over. Mastantuono will need to be on this list to play.

Meanwhile, List B is reserved for youth or reserve players, but eligibility requires that a player has been with the club for at least two consecutive years since turning 15.

Since Mastantuono only joined Real Madrid this year, he does not meet the criteria to be included on List B. This means the club must register him directly with the first team.

Despite that, Felix Diaz assures that Mastantuono, one of the brightest talents from Argentina, will be able to step onto the Champions League stage without any regulatory hurdles.