Real Madrid announced the signing of Franco Mastantuono, and the fans are going crazy. This is one of the best signings Los Blancos have made in the past half decade or so. The player is that good.
I am seriously so thrilled for next season; I can't wait to catch a glimpse on the 18th in the first game of the Club World Cup under Xabi Alonso. All these signings, and the best part is that it is not over yet.
Franco Mastantuono is an excellent talent that exceeds expectations for his age. River Plate's president described him as one of Argentina's most prominent talents in the last 20 or 30 years.
Curiously, in the same breath, it is critical to recognize that space must be made for all new signings. And with Real Madrid's squad already so clustered, certain goodbyes are unavoidable.
Franco Mastantuono's signing is bad news for Rodrygo
One thing must be understood: benching Mastantuono would be an extremely unwise decision. The player is designed to be exploited for his strengths week in and week out, and I believe Xabi Alonso is savvy enough to see this.
In keeping with it, Mastantuono is an offensive midfielder second and a right-winger first. According to Transfermarkt, the Argentine youth played 17 games as a right-winger last season and only two as an attacking midfielder.
Having said that, it appears like Rodrygo's future'is in significant threat with this arrival. It wasn't good before, but it's just gotten worse.
Rodrygo had the worst Real Madrid season, raising serious doubts about his future at the club. There is no position for him on the left, despite his repeated requests, and he is inconsistent on the right.
If Mastantuono can impress Xabi on the wing early on, I believe Rodrygo's chances are finished. If a good offer arrives, it is the best chance for Madrid to encash.