Real Madrid leading the race to sign River Plate sensation over top European rivals | OneFootball

According to a recent report from Diario Ole, several top football clubs, including the Premier League’s leading teams, PSG, Bayern Munich, and Borussia Dortmund, have all expressed interest in signing Franco Mastantuono.

However, Real Madrid have gained an edge in the competition by establishing strong relationships with Mastantuono’s representatives.

At 16 years and eight months old, Mastantuono experienced remarkable success, making the most of significant opportunities.

Within just 96 days of his career, he became the youngest player to score a goal for River Plate, made an appearance in the superclasico, and even managed to debut and score a goal in the Copa Libertadores wearing the River Plate jersey.

Mastantuono is wanted across Europe

His exceptional talent has drawn interest from Real Madrid, who have been captivated by his abilities and are eager to secure his services as soon as possible.

Mastantuono’s potential is attractive not only because of his technical skills—he plays with the poise of an experienced player at just 16—but also because of his unique profile.

As a result, Real Madrid have reportedly begun talks with his inner circle to pave the way for a potential transfer.

Franco Mastantuono is wanted by top European teams, including Real Madrid. (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)

These discussions, while not yet official, give Madrid an edge over their wealthy competitors, such as the top Premier League teams, PSG, and the German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

All these clubs have expressed interest in Mastantuono through their scouting departments, but none have progressed as quickly or aggressively as Real Madrid’s football offices.

Real Madrid’s plan to sign Mastantuono

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has given the green light to speed up the recruitment process after Juni Calafat, the club’s head of scouting, praised the scouting report on Mastantuno.

To sign Mastantuno without paying his €45 million buyout clause, Real Madrid will need to devise an enticing offer.

This could involve structuring the deal similarly to the one used for acquiring Endrick, by proposing a lower initial fee paired with achievable performance-based bonuses.

Optimists in Madrid believe an agreement could be reached by September 2, the deadline for transfers in Spain.

However, this deal would not necessarily mean an immediate move. The goal is to secure Mastantuno and prevent other clubs from bidding for him.

One potential strategy is allowing Mastantuno to stay at River Plate for an additional year or 18 months, finalizing the transfer only in August 2025 when he turns 18.