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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 vision and set-piece prowess Fans have every reason to be hyped: in the latest Argentine season he already notched 4 goals and 4 assists in just 12 appearances and he just made his senior Argentina debut (becoming his country’s youngest-ever player) – all before his 18th birthday. This is the kind of signing that gets Real fans talking, and it has the makings of a blockbuster season opener.

Who Is Franco Mastantuono ?

Franco Mastantuono is a 17-year-old Argentine midfielder/forward from Azul, Buenos Aires Province. He started kicking a ball practically before he could walk – he joined local club River de Azul at age 3, with his father as coach Fun fact: he was so athletically talented that he was once ranked top-10 in junior tennis in Argentina In 2017 he actually trialed at the famous River Plate academy, but interestingly his family prioritized tennis then and he initially declined the spot Mastantuono finally came to River Plate properly in 2019 via a year at a nearby club (Club Cemento) His rise was meteoric: by 2024 he was training with River’s first team and making history. He made his official debut in January 2024, and just weeks later on 8 February 2024 he scored the winning goal in a Copa Argentina tie – becoming River Plate’s youngest-ever goalscorer (breaking Javier Saviola’s record) He even etched his name in the superclásico lore: later that year he blasted a 28-meter free kick into the net, making him the youngest player to ever score for River in a Superclásico By the time he left for Madrid, Mastantuono had 45 senior appearances (and 5 goals) for River, already a fixture in their match-day squad.

• Youth & Debut Highlights: Started at River de Azul (age 3), joined River Plate academy in 2019 Debuted in River’s first team at 16 (Jan 2024), then scored his first senior goal – a volley – in Feb 2024 to become River’s youngest scorer

• Historic Moments: Scored a standout free-kick in the Superclásico in 2024, again setting a club record for youngest derby scorer

• Rapid Growth: By age 17 he had already signed his first pro contract (with a €30m release clause) and trained regularly under River’s senior coach

His Rise to Fame

Those early flashes of brilliance quickly earned Mastantuono national attention. He was called up to Argentina’s youth teams extremely young – at 15 he was already in the U17 squad under Pablo Aimar. He shone in youth internationals and even played in the 2023 U17 World Cup (Argentina squad) In early 2025 he helped Argentina’s U20 team reach the South American Championship final (finishing runners-up) Meanwhile at club level his stats spoke volumes: in the 2025 Apertura he tallied 4 goals and 4 assists in just 12 games a sensational return for a teenager. That form (and his leadership on the pitch) earned him a senior national team call-up by Lionel Scaloni. On 5 June 2025 he made his Argentina debut in a World Cup qualifier against Chile – at 17 years and 296 days he broke the record as Argentina’s youngest-ever official debutant

Key growth milestones:

• International Youth: Called up to Argentina U17 at 15 played in the 2023 FIFA U17 World Cup and was a regular for the 2025 U20 team.

• Breakout Stats: Scored 4 goals and made 4 assists in 12 first-division matches (2025 Apertura), showcasing his impact.

• Record-Breaking Debut: Became Argentina’s youngest senior debutant (June 2025, age 17y, 296d)

• Scout Buzz: Highlighted by youth coaches for technical skill and creativity and even long-term fans began drawing comparisons to Argentine greats (more on that below).

Playing Style

Mastantuono is a classic “enganche” – a left-footed, creative playmaker with license to roam. He can operate as a #10 in midfield or as an inside-forward, drifting wide or dropping between the lines River Plate’s coaches rave about his ball-striking ability and free-kick talent. In games you’ll see him cleverly receive the ball with his back to goal and spin away or thread through balls to teammates. He’s nimble (scoring record free-kicks and volleys shows it) and technically gifted. In interviews the youngster has named Argentine stalwart Julián Álvarez and English star Phil Foden among his role models, suggesting he models his game on energetic, high-IQ attackers. In short, expect Franco to be the creative hub of play, one who can unlock defenses with passes or dribble-shots from distance.

• Preferred Roles: Mainly an attacking midfielder/#10 or supporting striker, though versatile enough to play on the wing if needed

• Technical Profile: Pacy with a silky first touch and excellent close control (he’s been described as “futsal-esque” in tight spaces) Great spatial awareness allows him to exploit small pockets of space.

• Special Skills: Dead-ball specialist – he scores from long range and free kicks – and very good with his left foot. (He took 8 shots and scored once from a penalty in the Apertura

• Influences: Models his style on modern stars; scouts note a resemblance to the flair of James Rodríguez, and he himself admires Neymar and Foden. His game combines creative passing with flair dribbling and the ability to take set pieces, fitting Xabi’s vision of dynamic, attacking play.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The heatmap above (River Plate 2025) highlights Mastantuono’s influence in the opponent half – he frequently drifts into wide and half-space areas to receive and create. His top strengths are unmistakable: coaches and scouts praise his passing vision, technique, and creativity. He tallied 37 successful dribbles in 929 minutes (48.7% success), underlining how he beats opponents one-on-one. Below we summarize his key strengths and areas for improvement:

• Passing & Vision (Strength): Exceptional range and creativity in distribution often unlocking defenses with through-balls or switches of play.

• Dribbling & Creativity (Strength): Excellent close control and flair on the ball with 37 successful dribbles so far. He can carry the ball forward and use tricks (backheels, feints) to unsettle defenders.

• Shooting & Set Pieces (Strength): Has a powerful left-foot shot and is accurate from distance and dead balls. In Apertura play he took 52 shots (33% on target) and scored 4 goals (xG ~4.07) including a penalty.

• Defensive Work (Weakness): Still developing his off-the-ball work rate. He won only 3 tackles in 12 games (30% successand won under half his duels (42.9%). Improving his defensive positioning and pressing is on the list.

• One-Footedness & Aerial (Weakness): Almost exclusively left-footed his right foot is limited and his aerial duel win rate is just 43.5%. He needs to add strength and versatility as he matures (a note also made by scouts

Achievements So Far

Franco has already collected some honors at both club and youth international levels, despite his age:

• River Plate: Supercopa Argentina champion 2023 (he was part of the squad that won the trophy in the 2022/23 season).

• Argentina U20: South American U-20 Championship – Runner-up (2025)

• Argentina U17: FIFA U-17 World Cup participant (2023)

• Argentina Senior: Made his debut in 2025, becoming Argentina’s youngest official player (17 years, 296 days)

For a player not yet 18, that’s a stacked resume – and it makes clear why Real Madrid see him as a trophy-winning type for the future.

Fit into Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid

Tactically, Mastantuono looks tailor-made for Xabi Alonso’s style. Alonso values midfielders with sharp vision and passing – Mastantuono is exactly that type of creative hub. He should slot in nicely as a left-sided No.10 or inside winger in Madrid’s setup, providing the link between defense and attack. Real paid a hefty price for him (they triggered his €45 million release clause on a six-year deal), signaling that they see him as a long-term cornerstone rather than a short-term experiment. In fact, the club and fans are already drawing parallels to James Rodríguez – another left-footed Argentine playmaker – for his free-kick ability and attacking flai Essentially, Xabi gets a young, athletic version of that archetype.

• System Fit: Under Alonso’s possession-oriented, attacking system, Franco’s creativity and ball control should thrive. He can connect with players like Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Jr. by threading passes or drawing defenders out of position.

• Long-Term Plan: A six-year contract (with €45m release) suggests Real views him as a future starter. He could be groomed as the heir to past Madrid playmakers (think Kroos/Modrić or even an Argentine Éver Banega). His versatility means Xabi might deploy him in multiple roles until he finds the best fit.

• Comparisons: Often likened to James Rodríguez or an Argentine Ángel Di María-type in terms of flair. Fans will watch to see if Franco can bring that same flash (and more trophies!) to the Bernabéu.

In short, Mastantuono has the profile of a player who not only fits into Real’s current tactics, but could also shape how Alonso’s project evolves in coming years.

My Verdict

In our opinion, this signing is incredibly exciting for Real Madrid. Franco Mastantuono has all the raw ingredients of a superstar: skill on the ball, goalscoring instincts, and a winning mentality. Under Xabi Alonso’s guidance, I predict he’ll make an immediate splash – maybe not lighting up every game from day one, but certainly chipping in with some crowd-pleasing goals and assists as the season unfolds.

Real Madrid fans can be cautiously optimistic: this kid has already broken youth records and won a trophy. Of course, many talented teenagers arrive with fanfare and take time to adjust, so patience is key. My money is on him becoming a new favorite once he gets a run of games. If he picks up where he left off at River, Franco could easily notch 5–10 goals (and a pile of assists) by the end of his debut campaign. In short – buckle up, because Los Blancos might have found themselves another Argentine sensation. 🚀