Franco Mastantuono will wear Real Madrid's jersey once the Club World Cup ends. The young Argentine talent has already made his decision. He rejected million-euro offers from PSG to fulfill his dream of playing at Bernabéu.
Florentino Pérez has strongly backed him. He will pay €45 million to River Plate to secure his arrival this summer. The deal is closed and only needs to be made official.
Mastantuono is left-footed, very skillful, and has great vision on the field. Many in Argentina already compare him to Lionel Messi because of his style. In Madrid, they see him as a gem to be polished with patience.
Florentino keeps drawing Real Madrid's grand plan
The arrival of the Argentine has caused great excitement among the white fans. He is young, but he already shows maturity on the field. His growth potential is enormous.
Florentino wants to build a lasting project with young talents. Mastantuono joins names like Endrick, Arda Güler, or Jude Bellingham. All have potential and a competitive DNA.
However, his arrival has also raised some doubts. Not so much because of him, but because of what it means for others. The change in priorities is clear.
Mastantuono fills the spot that was reserved for Kroos's favorite
Mastantuono's emergence has caused an unexpected pause in another important case. A prospect who had everything to keep growing. He even had the support of major figures in the locker room.
We're talking about Nico Paz, one of the most promising midfielders at Valdebebas. The Spanish-Argentine had everything in his favor to make the definitive leap. Toni Kroos mentioned him more than once as his favorite from the academy.
But Real Madrid have halted his progression for now. His loan or sale with a buy-back option is on the table. Mastantuono's arrival closes a very valuable spot for him.
The new era of Real Madrid
The arrival of the Argentine marks the beginning of a new cycle. It's no longer just about signing established names. Now the goal is to get ahead of everyone with the world's greatest football prospects.
Florentino is clear about it: it's better to bring them in young than pay three times more when they break out. Mastantuono has everything to justify that bet. The Club World Cup will be his last step before landing in Madrid.
Meanwhile, Nico Paz will have to find his path away from Bernabéu. Maybe it's just a see you soon. But the truth is Madrid have already chosen their new diamond.