AC Milan take lead in race for South American sensation as Real Madrid cool interest | OneFootball

Franco Mastantuono’s name has been buzzing in football circles for months, particularly in connection with Real Madrid.

The young River Plate midfielder fits the profile that the Spanish champions have been seeking recently, aligning with their market strategy that has yielded success.

However, this potential move has cooled in recent weeks, and a new suitor has emerged: AC Milan.

AC Milan take lead amid Real Madrid’s Waning Interest

Indeed, according to MARCA, Real Madrid’s interest in signing Mastantuono from River Plate has somewhat diminished, given the anticipated bidding war for his services.

The Merengues maintain their stance of avoiding auctions, and given the number of rivals emerging for the Argentine’s signature, they seem to have put the operation on hold for now.

This has left the door open for other clubs, who are now gaining ground in the pursuit of the teenage sensation, with AC Milan making the most significant advances.

Real Madrid seem to have cooled their interest in Mastantuono. (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)

As per reports in Italy, the Rossoneri’s interest is very high with their transfer chief Geoffrey Moncada understood to have been tracking Mastantuono for a long time – even before his first-team debut with River Plate.

AC Milan’s Strategy

However, like Real Madrid, Milan are wary of a potential bidding war that could inflate the transfer price. Currently, the youngster’s release clause stands at just over €40 million.

As per the report, AC Milan are considering a strategy to pay the release clause in two instalments and loan Mastantuono back to River Plate until 2026.

Mastantuono shot to fame this year, becoming the youngest goalscorer in River Plate’s history, but has struggled to maintain consistent form recently.

The 17-year-old’s most recent performance resulted in a goal for the Argentine Under-20 national team, but prior to that, he went 12 games without scoring.

Despite recent challenges, Mastantuono remains a highly promising talent. Europe’s top clubs are vying for his signature, with AC Milan seemingly taking the lead at present, though Real Madrid cannot be completely ruled out of the equation.