The transfer market always creates rumors, but this time, a conversation between Florentino Pérez and Joan Laporta settled the fate of a transfer. Franco Mastantuono, one of the great promises of Argentine soccer, won't be joining Real Madrid. Despite his great talent, Madrid's president has decided not to proceed with his transfer.
The Argentine Talent
Franco Mastantuono, only 17 years old, has been one of the standout players for River Plate. The Argentine midfielder has impressed with his technical ability, game vision, and capacity to dominate the midfield. His performance has been so outstanding that several European clubs, including Real Madrid, have had him on their radar.
Despite his young age, Mastantuono has proven to be a key piece in his team's scheme, which has caused great interest in his transfer. The player has everything to be a star, so it's no surprise that important teams are following his development.
Real Madrid Decided Not to Sign Him
Despite the talent Mastantuono has shown, Florentino Pérez doesn't intend to sign him at the moment. According to sources close to the club, the main reason is the high price River Plate is asking for the player.
The Argentine club has set a clause of 45 million euros, a figure that, for Real Madrid, is too high. Although some people within the club, like Santiago Solari and Juni Calafat, thought the transfer would be positive, Pérez's decision has been firm.
Additionally, the Madrid president believes that, at this moment, there's no urgency to sign a midfielder of his profile. At Real Madrid, the midfield is very well covered with players like Luka Modrić, Toni Kroos, and Federico Valverde. Therefore, there's no need to make such a significant investment for a player in that position.
Mastantuono: a Future in Europe
Although Real Madrid has ruled out his transfer, there's no doubt that Franco Mastantuono has a great future ahead. Teams like Manchester City and Chelsea have shown interest in him, which increases the chances of his move to Europe happening soon. Despite his high clause, his talent and potential ensure that he won't take long to be signed by an elite European club.
Florentino Pérez's decision—supported by Joan Laporta—not to sign Franco Mastantuono has been clear. Real Madrid won't make any offer for the young Argentine, although his future remains bright in European soccer. Without a doubt, Mastantuono's talent will take him to great heights, but it won't be at Santiago Bernabéu.