Last week, midfielder Franco Mastantuino made his debut as Argentina’s youngest footballer. Coach Lionel Scaloni brought him on as a substitute in the World Cup qualifier against Chile. This time, Real Madrid have signed him for the record price of the release clause of the home club. However, Los Blancos had been keeping an eye on him for two years. This time, they won the battle with PSG and shared this 17-year-old talent.
Real Madrid announced this information on their website yesterday (Friday). Although they did not disclose the exact amount, Argentine club River Plate said in a statement that their agreement with Real for Mastantuyono is 63.2 million euros. Excluding taxes and other costs, 45 million euros will go directly to River Plate as a release clause. This is the most expensive transfer of any footballer from Argentina.
Enzo Fernandez was previously transferred from the same club for the highest price. Portuguese club Benfica bought Enzo from River Plate for 44.25 million euros in the 2022-23 season. Mastantuyono broke that record and left the domestic club at the age of just 17. His contract with Real is 6 years. The midfielder, who has a contract until 2031, will be able to wear the club’s jersey when he turns 18, from August 14.
Although Xabi Alonso has already signed for Real Madrid, Mastantuyono will play for River Plate in the Club World Cup starting tomorrow (June 15). He will then join the Santiago Bernabeu club in August. According to ESPN, Real had been monitoring the Argentine midfielder for two years. Several other big clubs in Europe were also in the running. However, the Spanish giants took Mastantuyono early, thinking that PSG could be a threat. He also preferred Madrid.
Mastantuono is Real Madrid’s third signing since Alonso took over as coach. They have already been welcomed after Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold were brought in earlier. Los Blancos are struggling after a title-less season. They lost all four of their matches to arch-rivals Barcelona in the just-concluded season. Mastantuono is also expected to be in Real’s starting XI in the new season. European clubs, including Real, are impressed by his set-piece skills.
Real Madrid have recently received positive reports about Mastantuono’s personality and behavior. The attacking midfielder has scored 4 goals and assisted 4 in 12 games for River Plate this year. He then caught the attention of Scaloni and made his international debut. It is said that his net salary at Real Madrid will be around 3.5 million euros per year! They have set a 1 billion euro release clause to keep Mastantuono!
