Real Madrid spent a total of around 60 million euros on 18 year old Argentinian playmaker Franco Mastantuono from River Plate last summer, as Juni Calafat and even manager Xabi Alonso were totally smitten with Mastantuono as the next big thing in world football. Alonso demanded Mastantuono over even his star Bayer Leverkusen pupli Florian Wirtz, a much bigger name in world football, and he started the River Plate standout immediately on Matchday 1 in La Liga.
Inconsistency, attitude issues, and Real Madrid simply being too big of a step all hampered Mastantuono in his first season at the White House, as he struggled to win battles on the wings and was not at the mental level of a true attacking midfield playmaker in the Spanish top flight.
But there were real flashes of brilliance, and after his name was floated in transfer rumors to start the summer, Jose Mourinho has slowly but surely turned into a big believer in the Argentinian attacking midfielder.
Real Madrid still value Mastantuono
Clubs are trying to sign Franco Manstantuono on loan this summer, because even though Mourinho is becoming a big fan of the player, there is simply no space for him to play in the Real Madrid first team.
Surprisingly, according to a report from Diario AS, via the Madrid Zone, one of the teams eager to sign him on a one year loan deal without an obligation to buy is Fulham, the club currently being managed by former Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa from last season. Arbeloa is wanting to sign several young players from Madrid, with Gonzalo Garcia by far being his main focus, and while it seemed like he and Franco Mastantuono were not on the same page at the Valdebebas last season, this news changes that.
Diario AS are also reporting that Real Madrid have no intention of selling Mastantuono or getting into a deal where they lose control over his future. They say that Real still very much believe in Mastantuono and his talent.
That much should be obvious. Mastantuono had a weak first season at the Santiago Bernabeu, but the flashes and the quality are clearly there. He just needs more experience, the right role, and more confidence after getting the humbling he so richly deserved against the big teams like Atletico Madrid. Real Madrid need to loan him or give him minutes elsewhere since he is not ready, but they cannot lose control over the chance to have him when he is one of the best.
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