Franco Mastantuono, the 17-year-old gem from River Plate, is patiently waiting for a call from Madrid. According to multiple reports, the young attacking midfielder —who has already secured a place in River Plate's starting lineup and dazzled with a stunning goal in the Superclásico against Boca Juniors— sees Real Madrid as his ideal destination to make the leap to Europe. Although clubs like Manchester United, Olympique de Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain, and FC Barcelona have shown real interest in him, the player has reportedly told several of them that he will only make a decision once the white club speaks up.

A complicated operation, but not impossible

The operation isn’t simple. River Plate has no intention of negotiating and is sticking to the release clause, set at 45 million euros. This price, which seemed unreachable a few months ago, no longer scares the big European giants, especially after the young Argentine’s recent performances. Despite this, Real Madrid has been cautious due to some disagreements with the player's camp, which has delayed an official move.

In this context, the figure of Santiago Solari becomes important. Currently the director of football at Real Madrid, the former first-team coach has been one of the main advocates for tracking Mastantuono, whom he knows well from his time as a player at River Plate. Solari was not only the first to alert the club to the kid's talent when he was just 16, but he could now serve as a key bridge between the player and Valdebebas. Even if Carlo Ancelotti transitions out and Xabi Alonso steps in, Solari could take over the bench temporarily for the Club World Cup, arriving with Mastantuono as a potential signing.

A signing that could change Real Madrid’s youth policy

This potential signing could also force Real Madrid to reconsider its strategy with players under 18. Unlike the cases of Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, and Endrick, where the club waited until they turned 18 to bring them in, Mastantuono, with his European passport, could join as early as this summer without violating FIFA rules. It’s a significant decision that shows how seriously the white club is taking the possibility of signing him before the competition heats up.

Meanwhile, River Plate is holding onto its release clause, and the big European clubs are lining up with offers. Franco Mastantuono keeps his eyes on the Santiago Bernabéu, and with Solari acting as a direct link between both sides of the Atlantic, the young Argentine’s dream of wearing white might be closer to becoming a reality than many think.