Real Madrid is already moving to seal a star signing: Franco Mastantuono, the young gem from River Plate who has dazzled Argentine football at just 17 years old. According to Argentine channel TyC Sports, the player’s agents, Walter Tamer and Augusto Fernández, are in Madrid and have already held a virtual meeting with the player and a club emissary. The deal, which had been on hold for some time, has reactivated in recent weeks with the aim of adding him to the project led by Kylian Mbappé.

Madrid’s bet and financial challenges

Florentino Pérez’s push for Mastantuono is part of a desire to refresh the squad after a disappointing season marked by multiple losses to Barcelona, an early Champions League exit, and the departure of Carlo Ancelotti. The young left-footed midfielder, who holds an Italian passport, could arrive in Europe before turning 18 in August, making it easier to join the Santiago Bernabéu sooner.

However, the negotiation is tricky. River Plate demands full payment of the release clause, set at around $48 million—a figure similar to what Madrid paid for Vinicius Jr. The White House, on the other hand, offers about $32 million plus variables, leaving a gap that still needs to be bridged. The agents’ presence in Madrid suggests talks are progressing, but details remain unresolved.

International competition and long-term vision

Mastantuono has not only caught Real Madrid’s attention. Clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, Atlético de Madrid, and Milan are also closely following his development. Still, the Spanish club has the advantage of having started talks over a year ago and is clear about its goal: to make him a core part of the future alongside young stars like Mbappé and Endrick.

Meanwhile, River Plate president Jorge Brito has urged patience, stating that "neither the player nor the club are in a rush" to finalize the midfielder’s departure. Nevertheless, all signs point to Franco Mastantuono leaving his mark in Europe sooner rather than later, and Real Madrid is determined not to lose the race for the so-called “next Messi.”