Real Madrid are staring down a second straight season without a trophy, which, for them, is a call for a crisis. This summer transfer window should see more roster turnover with tweaks around the big stars, more drama around a potential big sale, and the exits of a few players on the fringes of the squad either as permanent sales or out on loan.
Franco Mastantuono was one of the high profile new additions to the Real Madrid squad last summer transfer window, and like the other newcomers, Mastantuono has failed to assert himself as a first team player. In fact, he has been a huge disappointment. After flashing initially and even being tabbed as a regular starter under Xabi Alonso, Mastantuono has pretty much faded into obscurity.
Now, Abraham P. Romero of El Mundo reports that a loan move away for Mastantuono this summer transfer window is potentially in the cards. Both he and striker Gonzalo Garcia, who has been more impressive this season with six goals after also getting a nod of endorsement from Alonso, are strong candidates to leave on loan with Endrick and Nico Paz coming back into the fold.
Franco Mastantuono is not ready
Madridistas have honestly been frustrated with how Alonso played favorites with Mastantuono over Endrick, as Endrick has done well on loan with Lyon while Mastantuono is getting worse and worse. There is an air of petulance, too, with his attitude and some of the rash fouls he gives up, in addition to his inability to beat defenders out wide and elevate his game.
Real Madrid were playing Franco Mastantuono as a left footed right winger, and he was a disaster in that role, often aimlessly passing backwards while creating no chances and taking a lot of bad shots. Basically, doing all the things Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe are guilty of without any of the star power, production, of years of credibility.
What makes all this so disappointing is that not only did Xabi Alonso want Mastantuono over his star Bayer Leverkusen pupil Florian Wirtz, but top scout Juni Calafat, who has nailed so many genius signings from South America over the years, was sold on him.
And look, when Mastantuono was at River Plate, he was sensational. He looked like the playmaking version of Endrick in the sense that he had "next big thing" written all over him, destroying defenders at will. We have not seen that player at Real Madrid, and fans are frustrated. Mastantuono needs to play and develop, but he can't do it at Real's expense, especially with two superior playmakers set to play for Madrid in 2026/27 between Nico Paz and Arda Guler.
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