He just broke Argentina’s national record, scored screamers in El Superclásico, and Real Madrid pulled the trigger before anyone else. But who is Franco Mastantuono – and why is Xabi Alonso betting big on him? Fresh off his breakthrough in River Plate’s midfield, the 17-year-old Argentine wonderkid is now set to shake up Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid – but who exactly is Mastantuono and why is everyone buzzing? Introduction Real Madrid officially confirmed on 13 June 2025 that they’d signed Franco Mastantuono from River Plate The announcement sent shockwaves through the football world – this 17-year-old attacking midfielder is already being hailed as one of Argentina’s brightest prospects. The transfer was no casual move: Madrid had tracked Mastantuono for two years and suddenly rushed to beat Paris Saint-Germain to his signature According to reports, club and new coach Xabi Alonso believe Mastantuono will be “an immediate asset to the first team,” praising his vis...
Barcelona and Spanish star faces injury setback.
Spain and Barcelona midfielder, Gavi, faced a significant setback during the Euro 2024 qualifying victory against Georgia, suffering a severe knee injury. The 19-year-old's distressing moment occurred when he landed awkwardly while controlling the ball, leading him to exit the field in tears in Valladolid.
Expressing concern, manager Luis de la Fuente emphasized the need for tests to determine the potential anterior cruciate ligament injury. He conveyed the emotional impact, stating, "This is the ugly part of football. This is the most bitter victory I have ever experienced in my life."
Acknowledging the difficulty for Gavi, Barcelona, the national team, and himself, de la Fuente emphasized the collective sense of loss. He added, "It is a very difficult moment for Gavi, Barcelona, the national team, and for me - it seems as if we have lost the game. I am very sorry (for Gavi). Let's wait for the tests to confirm the extent of the injury."
Despite the injury, Spain secured a 3-1 victory over Georgia, concluding their Group A campaign above Scotland and securing a place at the European Championships. Robin le Normand opened the scoring, followed by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's equalizer. Ferran Torres reclaimed the lead in the second half, and an own goal by Luka Lochoshvili secured the win for Spain.
Reflecting on the victory, Le Normand expressed mixed emotions, stating, "We can't celebrate as we would have liked. Gavi's injury is a hard blow. I'm really gutted." Torres, who celebrated his goal by holding up Gavi's shirt, echoed the sentiment, saying, "An important victory to end on a good note, but we leave with a bittersweet feeling. We don't know the extent of the injury but, knowing how much of a warrior Gavi is, we think it could be serious."
Comments
Post a Comment