Real Madrid are embarking on a new future and, they will hope, a new dynasty under the guidance of manager Xabi Alonso. The Spanish maestro brought Bayer Leverkusen an undefeated Bundesliga season and league title in 2023/24 with an appearance in the Europa League Final while turning the likes of Exequiel Palacios, Piero Hincapie, Jonathan Tah, Robert Andrich, and Alex Grimaldo from average to great.
Alonso will look to do the same with the current crop of Real Madrid players after a disappointing, trophyless season. Already, the Spanish manager is bringing in some big names to the Spanish capital, including center back Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth.
Now, he has his eye to the future with another attacking midfield move to potentially replace Nico Paz if the academy graduate is bought from Como and sold to Leverkusen as a Florian Wirtz replacement.
According to a report from Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid have made a fresh approach to both River Plate and Franco Mastantuono's camp for a transfer to acquire the Argentinian playmaker.
Real Madrid are combating a rival's interest
The trail had cooled for months after Mastantuono was identified as one of Juni Calafat's top targets in 2024, with Calafat viewing the magical 17-year-old as the next big thing in world football, just as he did years ago with Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes in Brazil.
Now with Champions League winners PSG highly interested in Mastantuono, Real Madrid are getting serious about signing the highly-rated youngster.
Mastantuono has always made it clear that he has dreamed of Madrid, and now with Champions League rivals PSG serious about signing him, Real Madrid have woken up from their slumber.
It appears a significant part of that is down to the change in management with Alonso wanting the club to invest in special young talents like Mastantuono, who can help him for years to come and even immediately, based on how well the teenager has been performing for River Plate this summer in the Argentinian top flight.
Per Fab, Mastantuono's release clause sits at 41 million euros, which is actually a great deal, considering Real Madrid paid more for Rodrygo and Vinicius.
Mastantuono seems to be a prospect somewhere between the two in quality and is comparable. He'd also be cheaper than Endrick was last year.
As Real Madrid and PSG battle fiercely for the biggest prospect in South America, Real do so knowing they have a big advantage since the player, like the Brazilian trio above, values Los Blancos more than the rest. With Alonso taking charge, Real could be closing on the third big signing of the former Madrid regista's tenure as manager after already securing defensive standouts Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool fame.