Real Madrid had thought they had signed a bright young talent in Franco Mastantuono. However, the Argentine has struggled to adapt to life at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Mastantuono made his debut for River Plate at the age of just 16, and went on to play 64 times for Los Millonarios. He scored 10 goals with seven assists in total for River, but only won the Supercopa Argentina.
Joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2025 was a dream come true for the right-winger. However, he has joined the club in a tumultuous season. This campaign started with Xabi Alonso at the helm, and Álvaro Arbeloa then replaced him. There are now reports that Jose Mourinho could return to the club next.
In total, Mastantuono has played 30 times in all competitions this season, scoring three goals and providing just one assist. The 18-year-old's only Champions League and La Liga goals have come in convincing victories. He scored in a 6-1 win over Monaco and in a 4-1 victory over Levante.
His only assist for the club also came in a 5-0 win over Kairat Almaty. Mastantuono also found the back of the net in a 3-2 defeat to Albacete, which was a humiliating loss to a Segunda División side in the Copa del Rey.
Silverware was expected when Mastuantono joined Los Blancos. However, they were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich, suffered embarrassment in the Copa del Rey, lost the SuperCopa to Barcelona, and they also trail in La Liga by 11 points.
Where could Franco Mastantuono go?
Mastantuono is only 18 and needs to play regularly to ensure he continues to develop. He is being linked with Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Benfica.
Joining Spurs could be a disaster as the club is a mess right now. There are also relegation fears, and there is no chance he would be going there if they drop down from the Premier League.
Brighton could be a good option for Mastantuono, as they are known for developing young South American talent. The likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo both honed their talents with the Seagulls.
Joining Benfica could be a step backwards to go forward. The Premier League could be too physical for the young player who is just 5 ft 10. Therefore, the Portuguese league might be a better option for him at this stage in his career.
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