Real Madrid will hand Franco Mastantuono a reserve shirt number – Here’s why | OneFootball

According to a recent update from Alberto Pereira on Radioestadio Noche, new signing Franco Mastantuono is set to wear the number 30 shirt at Real Madrid.

The reporter explains that this is because the club will keep the number 25 vacant in case a last-minute signing materialises before the transfer window closes.

Real Madrid have confirmed that Mastantuono will be officially presented today, August 14. Although he will be registered as a Castilla player, the 17-year-old will spend the entire 2025/26 campaign with the first team under Xabi Alonso’s plans.

Strategic signing for Real Madrid

Because Mastantuono is under 23, La Liga regulations allow him to play the full season wearing the number 30, even if he surpasses the 10-match threshold that typically triggers a senior squad number change.

This arrangement means that, even if he does not feature once for Castilla, his registration will still count toward the three-year requirement for UEFA to classify him as a homegrown player in future Champions League squads.

Franco Mastantuono will wear the number 30 shirt at Real Madrid. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

On the financial side, the Argentine teenager will earn an annual salary of around €3.5 million at the Santiago Bernabeu.

While this figure places him toward the lower end of the club’s pay scale, it is still a substantial sum for a player with no prior European experience who will only turn 18 later this month.

Real Madrid’s future

Mastantuono’s commitment to the club is long-term. He has signed a six-year deal running until 2031, signalling Real Madrid’s intent to make him a cornerstone of their future.

His versatility, technical skill, and potential have made him one of the most highly anticipated young arrivals in recent seasons.

With the number 30 confirmed and his presentation imminent, all eyes will be on how quickly Mastantuono adapts to the demands of top-tier Spanish football and whether he can justify the excitement surrounding his arrival in Madrid.