Real Madrid has closed and announced the signing of Franco Mastantuono from River Plate, whose cost will reach €60 million. The Merengue president has firmly backed a player who offered himself to Barça and Joan Laporta decided to reject. The reason? He shares a position with Lamine Yamal and is considered to be far above him, both currently and in terms of potential.
El Nacional has revealed that Barcelona closely followed Mastantuono's development, but the conclusion was clear: there's no room for both. He is a profile similar to Lamine Yamal, considering the Spaniard to be much superior overall. At 17 years old (5 ft. 7 in.), he has shown he can be the best in the world, leading both Barça and Spain to great titles.
Meanwhile, Franco Mastantuono has been more of an Argentina footballer, not being important for the national team and having made his debut as a substitute when he was being linked to Madrid. The future, both for Barça and for Europe, is Lamine Yamal and there is no doubt. Nobody questions the signing Florentino has just made, but the conclusion is clear: he wasn't needed at Camp Nou.
Lamine Yamal: Candidate for the Ballon d'Or
Lamine Yamal is destined to mark an era in world soccer. At just 17 years old (5 ft. 7 in.), the young academy product from Barcelona has starred in a historic season both at club and national team level. In his second full season with the first team under Hansi Flick, he has posted outstanding numbers: 18 goals and 25 assists in 55 matches, being decisive in winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.
His impact has crossed borders, and with the Spanish national team he has also managed to lift the Euro Cup as the tournament's biggest star. Yamal hasn't just been an undisputed starter, but has taken on responsibility with a maturity beyond his years. His dribbling, vision, and ability to decide matches one-on-one have made him the most valued player on the planet, with a market value already reaching €200 million.
Meanwhile, at Real Madrid they place their hopes in Mastantuono, its new signing and his peer, Lamine Yamal keeps showing he's several steps ahead. His breakthrough makes him a strong candidate for the Ballon d'Or, confirming that the future, and the present, of soccer bears his name.