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...
